Soccer Player Released from Team After Arrest Following Viral Video Showing the Player Elbowing Opponent By Ashley Vega

A soccer player was arrested on suspicion of assault after a violent on-field incident during a Welsh non-league match that quickly went viral online.

The Athletic reported that footage appeared to show a Trearddur Bay player elbowing a Porthmadog FC player in the head during a break in play.

The incident occurred during Saturday’s third-tier Welsh match, which features teams with amateur and semi-professional status. A video circulating on social media showed the Trearddur Bay player forcefully elbowing an opponent in the chin, with the Porthmadog player collapsing to the ground afterward, according to the outlet.

North Wales Police later confirmed they had launched an investigation and arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with the incident. In a statement shared publicly, the department said officers were “aware of a video circulating online relating to an incident” from the match and had been working to determine what happened.

“Officers have been making enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident,” police said in their statement. “As part of this investigation a 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault.”

The suspect remained in custody as the investigation continued, according to the police statement. “Enquiries are ongoing and we would ask members of the public not to speculate whilst the investigation continues,” North Wales Police added.

Trearddur Bay FC initially addressed the situation by announcing the player involved had been suspended. In a statement shared by the club, Trearddur Bay said it had suspended the alleged player “from immediate effect” following the incident.

The club also emphasized it would not comment further as police investigated. “As the matter is subject to a police investigation the club will not be making any further comment at this stage,” the statement read, adding that the club “in no way condones the use of unlawful behaviour by its staff or players.”

Soon after, Trearddur Bay issued another update following what it described as an “Extraordinary General Meeting” of the club’s committee. The team said it had decided to release the suspended player “with immediate effect” after completing its internal processes.

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“Trearddur Bay Football Club does not condone violence in any form and acknowledges that the incident should not have occurred,” the club said in the updated statement. The team also offered “sincere apologies to the opposition player involved, CPD Porthmadog, match officials, supporters, and the wider football community.”

The statement added that the club planned to cooperate with any outside reviews moving forward. “The club will fully cooperate with any external investigations or disciplinary processes and will make no further comment at this time while these matters are ongoing,” Trearddur Bay said.

The BBC reported that the Football Association of Wales also confirmed it was reviewing the incident. A statement obtained by the outlet said, “Tier-three matches fall under the jurisdiction of the [Football Association of Wales]” and that the organization was “aware of the incident and will be reviewing it.”

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Meanwhile, Porthmadog said its focus was on the player who was hit. “The club would like to emphasise that its major concern is for the welfare and safety of our player Danny Brookwell,” Porthmadog said in a statement, according to the BBC.

The club added that Brookwell “was concussed and following treatment had to leave the field of play.”

“It is our understanding that he is recovering at home,” the statement continued.

PEOPLE has reached out to North Wales Police for comment.