A Brighton referee was left with an eye injury after an object was thrown at him during a football match.
The game had to be abandoned after the object struck him in the second half of the match between Ardingly and Ashurst Wood at Ardingly Recreation Ground on Saturday.
He was treated at Princess Royal Hospital for an eye laceration.
A police spokesman said; “this appears to have been a malicious act by some unknown person, and could have had even more serious consequences had the object struck the eye just slightly differently.”
The object itself has not yet been identified but police believe it was thrown deliberately, although they do not yet know this was by a player or spectator.
Anyone who saw the incident or has any other information about what happened is asked to contact Sussex Police via 0845 60 70 999 quoting Serial 1254 of October 31.