The Chair of the Dublin District Schoolboy League has described as "abhorrent" an attack on a referee during a match at the weekend.
Volunteer referee Roy Kavanagh, 22, was left bruised and shaken after the attack, which occurred ten minutes from the end of an under-15s game in Dublin on Saturday.
Gardaí say they are investigating an alleged assault at a football game.
Chair of the DDSL Paddy Dempsey said that this was the worst incident he had ever come across in all his years involved in schoolboy football and added that it "shouldn't happen".
Mr Dempsey said the incident is being investigated and the alleged attacker will appear before a DDSL committee on Thursday.
He said under FAI rules if a person is found guilty of attacking a referee they could be suspended from schoolboy football matches for a minimum of 12 months but that in some cases suspensions have been handed out for between five and ten years.
He said the league’s governing bodies - the Schoolboy Football Association of Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland - are being kept informed about the investigation.
Mr Dempsey said the league supports the referee involved and hopes the incident does not deter him from taking part in future games.
He said Mr Kavanagh had refereed another game yesterday despite his injuries saying that he would not be driven out of football by the incident.
Mr Kavanagh, via social media, said: "Nobody should have to put up with what I put up with today" and that he could "see why so many young lads are reluctant to do this."
However, he said he was determined not to let it affect his love of the game adding: "Why should I let one person stop me doing what I love to do."
