Referee rushed to hospital after he is chased down and savagely beaten by football team after they lose penalty shootout

AN ARGENTINE referee was chased down and attacked by virtually an entire football team after they lost on penalties in a cup final.

The match official tried to sprint away from the furious players before being mercilessly punched and kicked to the ground.

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Fans on the side watched on helplessly in the video shared by Argentine news outlet as the horrendous assault continued as La Puerta's opponents Sportivo Tirolesa celebrated their victory.

Referee Eduardo Pastorino was taken to hospital to be treated for the injuries he sustained.

Regional league president Gustavo Garcia, filmed being punched as he tried to stop the violence, also needed medical treatment.

The scandalous scenes occurred at the end of an amateur cup final in Colonia Tirolesa in the Argentine province of Cordoba.

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Several spectators were also said to have joined in on the attack on the ref and league president after jumping over the perimeter fence onto the pitch.

Footage of the moment Garcia was assaulted showed a man knocking him down from behind before another kicked him as he lay on the ground by the centre circle.

Eight La Puerta players and three spectators have already been identified by police as the alleged aggressors.

Local reports say La Puerta had complained about several refereeing decisions during the game before the penalty shootout.

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It is not yet known the condition of referee Pastorino.

In October, a Brazilian footballer was charged with attempted murder after he was filmed kicking a referee in the head.

Former Sport Club Sao Paulo ace William Ribeiro attacked the ref after he awarded a foul against him during a league game away against Guarani.

The game was halted for nearly 15 minutes while Rodrigo Crivellaro was taken to hospital.

Video footage from the match showed how Ribeiro booted Crivellaro to the ground before taking another horrible kick to his head.

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