WORRIED Gwent Football Association chiefs are investigating a second alleged assault on a referee in a month after the abandonment of a Newport and District League fixture on Saturday.

The First Division clash between Lliswerry and Sporting Baneswell was abandoned after 55 minutes following an alleged assault on the match official by a Sporting Baneswell player.

The alleged culprit has not been named but is suspended from all football pending an investigation.

Last month a Football Association of Wales panel banned Cwmbran Celtic striker Scott Lanyon for 14 months following an assault on the match official in a MacWhirter Welsh League game at Ammanford on October 11.

The latest incident is a blow for the Gwent FA who admit they are currently contending with a string of problems relating to referees.

The men in black do not get paid at local level and it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract new officials, with the Gwent FA website reporting this month that a referee had been the victim of abusive telephone calls after a game.

The number of charges at Gwent FA level of bringing the game into disrepute has doubled in a year, with 23 incidents already reported since the start of the season.

The number of players booked and sent off is also on the rise.

The Gwent County disciplinary committee will conduct an investigation and are likely to charge the player in the next seven to ten days, while a separate committee representing the Newport and District League may also issue further sanctions against Sporting Baneswell.

Don’t miss tomorrow’s Argus Sport, which will feature a special feature on the growing problem of abuse towards officials in grassroots football.