An Italian journalist has been suspended after mocking a female assistant referee before a game between Sant’Agnello and Agropoli in one of the Italian lower divisions last Sunday.

Sergio Vessicchio later apologised for his behaviour, but not before his derogatory comments were condemned by the Italian referees association and other sporting entities.

Before the match started, the journalist is heard inviting the cameraman to focus on the assistant referee as she was checking the net before the game started. “It is disgusting to see female officials in leagues where clubs spend hundreds of thousands of euro,” he said.

Italian news agency Ansa reported that the journalist was suspended by the Journalists Association of the Italian region of Campania.