A TEENAGER was hospitalised after a top-of-the-table football clash descended into violence in Winchester on Sunday afternoon.

A Winchester City FC under-18s player was left with a bloodied face after the assault, which happened following a bad-tempered game with Portsmouth-based league leaders United Services. The fight broke up as both teams were returning to the changing rooms, shortly before 4pm.

The 17-year-old victim, from Romsey, was taken to Winchester’s Royal Hampshire County Hospital but was released later that evening.

Richard Nichols, WCFC’s under-18s manager, said: “The whole of the front of his face was smashed up, it looked like he’d lost his front teeth but I have since heard they have managed to save them.

“I have made a formal complaint to the Hampshire FA and the league’s secretary. I have stated my opinion on what happened and my total disgust. That was not just for the fight afterwards, it was for everything before that too.”

Police arrested an 18-year-old man from Portsmouth on suspicion of assault. He was bailed until June 2.