Italian referee kicked by sent-off player in lower league match

Castel San Niccolo, who play in Italy's ninth-tier, are currently bottom of the table with one point after 22 games

An extraordinarily tolerant Italian referee showed patience is virtue when a hot-headed player retaliated to being sent off by violently kicking him.

Fortis Arrezo’s comfortable 4-0 away win at Castel San Niccolo, in Italy’s ninth tier and on a bog of a pitch east of Florence, was stopped in the first-half as the hosts’ No 11 was given his marching orders.

The official turned his back on and proceeded to walk away, only for the San Niccolo player to load up his left leg and brutally swipe at his legs.

Remarkably, the referee manages to stay on his feet, while the player slips over from the sheer force applied in the kick.

The player then has to be restrained by team-mates and practically carried off the field in order to prevent another attack on the official, who walks away unmoved after briefly staring the aggressor down.

At that stage of the league fixture, the score was goalless, but 10-man San Niccolo subsequently fell apart to lose heavily.

They remain rooted to the bottom of the Girone A table in Terza Categoria, Italian football’s lowest level, with one point after 22 games.