A HAMPSHIRE cricketer has been suspended after an umpire was allegedly headbutted during a local derby.

The umpire is said to have lost a tooth in the incident, which occurred during a match between teams from Fawley and Hythe.

Police were called and the fixture at the New Forest Academy in Long Lane, Holbury, was abandoned.

The Daily Echo understands that a Hythe player was umpiring when he rejected an LBW appeal and was assaulted shortly afterwards.

In a statement released on social media, Chris Tona, chairman of Fawley Cricket Club, said the club was aware of the incident, which occurred on July 7.

He added: “The individual involved was immediately suspended by the committee pending a full disciplinary meeting.

“The club have contacted the Hampshire Cricket League chairman to report the incident and are working on providing an accurate statement of events to the League Disciplinary Committee.

“The club cannot comment any further while there is an ongoing police investigation.”

But Mr Tona said Fawley Cricket Club was committed to fair play and was “very disappointed” that the incident had occurred.

He added: “We have a very clear code of conduct which is displayed in our club pavilion and on the website and we expect those standards to be maintained at all times.”

A police spokesman said: “We’re investigating a report of an assault against a man in his 40s. The report referred to a headbutt and the loss of a tooth.

“The full circumstances are still under investigation."