A NEAR brawl involving players, supporters and even the referee forced a Salisbury youth football match to be abandoned on Sunday.

The game between Salisbury City Under-16s and Swindon Robins youth team, being played at Old Sarum, was just 20 minutes old when referee Brian Dobson waved an end to the match.

He had been subjected to a tirade of abuse from players and spectators after sending a Swindon player off for swearing at him.

His decision to end the match came after the Swindon player refused to leave the touchline. As Mr Dobson left the pitch he was surrounded by Swindon players and parents.

Order was only restored when stadium manager Kevin Mullins threatened to call the police unless the Swindon players calmed down.

Paul Pearce was attending a car boot sale next to the pitch and watched the drama unfold.

He said: "It looked to me like fists were flying and there was certainly lots of pushing and shoving.

"The Swindon team had been making some terrible tackles and some of the language used towards the referee was disgusting. I've never seen anything like it. It was complete bedlam."

Simon Pickett, manager of Salisbury Under-16s, said: "I was proud of our lads who kept their cool throughout. I have been involved with football for more than 30 years and I have never seen such a shocking display."

Referee Brian Dobson will send his match report to the Wiltshire FA, which then meets to decide what action should be taken.