Footballer Ricardo Ferreira handed 50-year ban after referee attack

A Switzerland-based amateur footballer has been banned for 50 years after kicking a ball in the referee's face and spraying him with water.

Portugal Futebol Clube defender Ricardo Ferreira has already served a 45-game ban for assaulting opposition players.

"I had expected one or two years maximum. But 50 years? Football's my life," Ferreira, 28, said.

The fourth-tier league's lawyer Robert Breiter said: "We do not want such a player in our league."

Speaking to Swiss newspaper Blick (in German),  Breiter continued: "Unfortunately we encounter such cases about once a year."

Ferreira had been an unused substitute in his team's match against SC Worb in the Bern league when he attacked the referee after the final whistle.

Ferreira will be free to return to footballing activity on 5 June 2064, by which time he will be 78.