WAVERTREE, ENGLAND — An amateur football match at Wavertree Sports Park was abandoned on Saturday after Ormskirk West End player Richard Agbasoga was violently attacked by a group of spectators, suffering a suspected fractured skull, the Daily Star reports.
Agbasoga, a temporary NHS worker and international nursing student, was playing against Calci Football Club when the incident occurred. The assault was reportedly triggered after Mr. Agbasoga responded to a headbutt incident involving a teammate.
Ormskirk West End’s manager, Chris Bull, stated that the original on-pitch incident should have resulted in simple disciplinary action: “It should have been two red cards with each player getting a £60 fine and missing three games.”
Instead, Mr. Bull told the ECHO, the spectators “swarmed onto the pitch like a ‘pack of wolves’,” leading to a “horrifying and sustained attack.” He added: “It was like someone had switched them on,” but was quick to note that “this was a really rare incident” and that thousands of matches are played in Merseyside leagues without issue every weekend.
The 27-year-old, who sustained a skull fracture near his left ear, is currently awaiting a full diagnosis to assess any potential damage to his sight and hearing. Due to the seriousness of his injuries, Mr. Agbasoga’s club has confirmed he will be sidelined from work for up to 12 weeks.
Since the player is an overseas student without statutory sick pay, Ormskirk West End has launched a successful fundraising drive to help cover his medical and living expenses during his recovery, which had already amassed over £4,000 at the time of reporting.
Mr. Bull praised Agbasoga, who lives in Kensington, describing him as an “absolute gentleman.” He added: “He’s a big lad, a gentle giant, who is unbelievably polite. He refers to everyone at the club as ‘sir’.” The manager concluded by stressing the motivation behind Agbasoga’s actions: “The people who work for the NHS are a rare breed. Richard just wants to help people. He’s a lovely character – all the guys here love him. At the end of the day he was attacked because he was sticking up for his mate.”
The Liverpool County Premier League title clash was called off while Ormskirk West End was leading 2-0. The Liverpool County FA’s disciplinary team is currently investigating the incident, and Calci FC’s matches have been temporarily put on hold.