A FOOTBALLER lost part of his ear when a match descended into violence.

Milton Wilson was playing for Pill Harriers AFC against the Alexandra pub last Saturday at the rugby ground off Courtybella Terrace when a huge fight broke out.

The 36-year-old from Albion Close has now made a formal complaint to police after needing plastic surgery to repair his ear.

And a witness to the violence is calling for local football bosses to clamp down on the "thuggish" behaviour.

Mr Wilson has played for Pill AFC for nearly eight years, and said he has never experienced such violence.

He said: "It all started with an altercation after a tackle.

"Then everyone else jumped in to break it up. I was kung-fu-kicked in the back and my right ear was bitten, too."

Mr Wilson was taken to the city's Royal Gwent Hospital and later transferred to Swansea's Morriston Hospital for plastic surgery.

It will be at least three months before surgeons can fully restore his ear.

Michael Pugsley, from Alway, and his nine-year-old daughter were witnesses to the violence.

Mr Pugsley said: "I have never heard so many foul-mouthed people and seen such thuggish behaviour.

"I hope the football authorities come down on them like a ton of bricks."

Shaun Seivwright, manager of the Alexandra pub football team, said: "There was a scuffle between two of the players and the others jumped in to break it up.

"No one from our team was injured and I didn't see anyone else injured."

And Peter Aston, Newport and County League secretary and disciplinary officer for Gwent, said the incident had not been reported to him.

He said: "I have not been contacted about any problems in Pill. I can assure the public that violence is dealt with seriously. However, there is currently a shortage of official referees, which may be why the incident was not reported."

A Pill police spokeswoman said: "We are appealing for witnesses." Contact 01633 244999.