Cliftonville ballboy: PSNI "enquiries ongoing" after incident between Irish league player and child

The PSNI has confirmed it is investigating following a "report of an assault" after an incident involving a football player and a ballboy during a match between Cliftonville and Carrick Rangers on Saturday.

The controversial moment was captured by BBC cameras, as Carrick Rangers goalkeeper Jack McIntyre went to retrieve the ball for a goal kick.

The incident happened during the first half of Saturday's game between Cliftonville and Carrick Rangers at Solitude.

Read more: Managers react to incident involving Carrick Rangers goalkeeper and ball boy during game

McIntyre - who was roundly booed by Cliftonville supporters following the incident - escaped any punishment from match referee Mark Dillon at the time but now faces a possible sanction from the Irish FA.

Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter told the BBC after the game: "I honestly didn't see it, I heard the crowd roaring, but I didn't see any push, so I have nothing to say."

Responding to a Belfast Live query about the incident, a spokesperson for the PSNI said: "Police received a report of an assault at a football match in the Cliftonville Street area of north Belfast on Saturday, March 22. Enquiries are ongoing."

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