An amateur football player is facing a possible life ban from the game after an incident which left a rival player in hospital requiring surgery.

Terry Gordon, a striker for non-league Lower Bevendean, has been expelled from the club and is being investigated by the Sussex Football Association following the Brighton incident.

It occurred two minutes before time in a cup match between Lower Bevendean and Chichester City United reserves at Bevendean Park.

The home team was losing 4-2 when an argument about a linesman's decision led to Mr Gordon, 22, allegedly hitting Malcolm Harwood in the face.

The incident left Mr Harwood, 38, of Barnham, with a shattered jaw which needed five metal plates to fix.

He was admitted to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester for six nights where he underwent two operations.

Mr Harwood, who is also the reserve team's assistant manager, is expected to be out of the game for at least two months.

After the incident, chaos broke out as the Chichester players chased Mr Gordon off the pitch.

Dave Kelly, manager of the Chichester side, said: "I have never seen football like that in my life. You get trouble at games sometimes but nothing like that.

"It happened right in front of our player's family and kids." He said neither the club nor Mr Harwood intended to press criminal charges.

Ken Benham, chief executive of Sussex FA, said: "We have received the referee's report on the match and will be following the normal disciplinary proceedings.

"The player has been suspended and charges have been levied of assault by a player on another player."

Mr Gordon, a student at the University of Brighton, faces a minimum 140-day suspension and £100 fine and could be banned from competitive matches for life, depending on how the FA views the case.

He said he deeply regretted the incident but insisted he only intervened in order to help one of his team-mates involved in a dispute with an opposition player.

Mr Gordon, of Edinburgh Road, Brighton, said: "An incident happened off the ball. I went over to back my player up. Unfortunately I hit the other guy which I deeply regret."

The player, who joined the team last season, said: "The guy was hurt and I regret that he was hurt. I am not a violent person and have never been in trouble with the law. All I was doing was trying to help a friend.

"If I was suspended I would have to accept that but I would be very upset if I was banned for life as I do not think I deserve that. I wouldn't wish an injury on any player."