A FOOTBALL thug who assaulted a referee after being sent to the sin bin has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Mathew Lambert turned on his heels and punched Liam Hatch in the mouth during a match in Totton in January.

The punch has left Liam, 17, with a permanent scar on his chin and lasting damage to his two front teeth. They will need to be replaced with false teeth soon.

Liam, a sixth form sports student at Hardley School, has quit refereeing, because it was the third attack on him by a player.

Lambert, of Argyle Road in Southampton, admitted assaulting Liam at the match at Testwood School and was sentenced at New Forest Magistrates' Court.

The court also lifted a ban on the press from identifying Liam, which was made at a previous hearing, after representations from the Daily Echo.

Mark Gammon, prosecuting, said Lambert was shown a blue card and sent to the sin bin for two minutes after he directed abusive language towards Liam.

Lambert, 18, punched Liam in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Mr Gammon said: "The injury has had a severe impact on Mr Hatch. Dental treatment in the future is expected to cost thousands of pounds. He will not be refereeing any more games of this nature because he does not feel safe doing so."

Richard Griffiths, representing Lambert, said the defendant had been thrown out of his parents' home the previous day. He said: "Mr Lambert took out his anger and aggression to his parents on the poor referee."

Mr Griffiths said Lambert, a sandwich bar worker, has since moved out of his parents' home. The Football Association has also banned him from playing.

Lambert was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for a year. He was ordered to pay Liam £1,000 compensation, complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay prosecution costs of £150.