Off-duty police officer Steven Higa was refereeing a Sunday League game in Oxford today when a brawl broke out.

Pc Higa, of Oxford Police, was in charge of the Marston's Oxford Sunday League game between Cowley Rovers and Cricketers Arms FC at Cutteslowe Park.

Cricketers were winning 2-0 when the off-duty Pc decided to abandon the game six minutes from time.

He told the Oxford Mail: "It got a bit heated, but there was nothing that required police action.

"It was a scuffle, nothing more than that but I felt it was necessary to call off the game and I will now be forwarding my report to the Oxfordshire Football Association.

"Players were shaking hands at the end of it and the managers clearly regretted what happened."

League spokesman Geoff Bower said: "I believe there was a confrontation after one of the Cowley Rovers players collided with the Cricketers' goalie.

Eyewitness Steven Hardwick said: "It was absolute mayhem. There was one guy with blood all over his face."

No-one from Cowley Rovers was available for comment and Keith Miles, secretary of Cricketers Arms FC, declined to comment until the OFA have received reports on the incident.