A FOOTBALLER who broke a linesman’s jaw in a fight on the pitch has been spared jail.

Thomas Forshaw, 24, who played for Clayton Park Rangers, waded into a row between his father and the linesman Masihullah Patel, at the match with Euro Garages on February 11 2017.

Preston Crown Court heard an enthusiastic goal celebration in the 80th minute had sparked tension between some of the players and supporters.

Mr Patel went to speak to Forshaw’s father Michael – the manager of Clayton Park Rangers – to ask him to help calm the situation down.

But Preston Crown Court heard Mr Forshaw responded aggressively, and Mr Patel pushed him backwards to defend himself.

At that point, Thomas Forshaw flew at Mr Patel, flooring him with a single punch.

Mr Patel said he felt his brain rattling in his head, felt dazed and lost a lower tooth, which he put back in place himself.

In his victim persnal statement, he said “if he had hit me in a different place with such force, he could have killed me.”

Two days later, Mr Patel was still in pain, and went to the hospital for an x-ray.

His jaw was fractured in two places and he was on a liquid diet for eight weeks.

Forshaw, of Devonshre Drive, Clayton le Moors, pleaded guilty to wounding when he appeared at Preston Crown Court.

Recorder Philip Parry, sentencing, said: “This has had a massive impact on his life.”

Since the attack, Forshaw, a labourer who previously aspired to be a PE teacher, has not returned to play at the club.

Mr Patel has lost his confidence and may lose his tooth, the court heard.

Sentencing Forshaw, Recorder Parry said: “There was an incident towards the end of the game, probably due to some provocative goal celebration.

"This is precisely the sort of thing the FA are doing their very best to stamp out at grassroots football, yet here it is in a public space, unfolding before their very eyes.

“You struck Mr Patel without warning and from behind, which was cowardly, and there was no need whatever for you to do what you did."

“You gratuitously got yourself involved in a very fractious situation. You ought to have known better."

The judge gave Forshaw a 14-month jail sentence suspended for a year and ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and a curfew for 35 days.