A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a parent and 15-year-old boy at a youth football match being played at Maidenhill School.

The match, between King’s Stanley Youth Football Club under 16s team and Bristol-based Avon Athletic was underway when the alleged assault happened around 3.30pm on Sunday.

Police were called at 3.40pm following claims of an assault against the man and a boy who was playing for King’s Stanley.

The force helicopter was scrambled and a 48-year-old man from Bournemouth was eventually arrested in the school car park at 5.50pm.

He was arrested on suspicion of assault and released on police bail until February 12 while investigations continue.

The son of the arrested man was playing for Avon Athletic.

Police say the first victim, a 44-year-old man from Stonehouse, was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with a fractured cheekbone and a black eye. He needed stitches to cuts around his eye.

The boy was taken to Stroud General Hospital with a cut lip.

Simon Kibble, chairman of King’s Stanley Youth Football Club, said parents locked the school gates to prevent the suspect from leaving the premises.

He said: “Everyone was in total disbelief, I have never seen anything like it at a football match in my life."

Any witnesses with information should contact police on 0845 090 1234, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 4414608 for the assault on the 44-year-old man and 4414708 for the assault on the 15-year-old boy.