Legend Higgins hits ref in charity match row

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The former world champion, 58, landed the blow on referee Terry Riley after a dispute over a foul shot he had called.

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Seeing red: The incident which caused the fracas. Does Higgins touch the blue ball?

Spectators at Spennymoor Leisure Centre were left speechless as the referee then grabbed Higgins and pushed him along the table before members of the crowd and Higgins' opponent, Jimmy White, stepped in.

The event's promoter, Gary Astley, said Higgins later told him the referee had "over-reacted".

But Riley, a class one international referee with 25 years' experience, said: "It was a punch and officials are not there to be punched. Early on in the game Alex was getting abusive. Then he was leaning over and touching the blue ball with his shirt.

"With exhibitions like this you don't normally call such fouls, but Jimmy signalled to me to call the foul, which I did.

"Alex said, 'I did not touch it', but I said he did. He just came at me and punched me in the stomach. That was when I pushed him."

Flashpoint: Referee Terry Riley restrains Alex Higgins

The match carried on for a few minutes without the referee — one fan even leaving the crowd to re-spot one of the balls after a pot.

After playing on for about five minutes White conceded the frame and the game ended.