The player had already been made subject to a ten-year ban on playing football.

The attack took place during a football match between the villages of Breuches-les-Luxeuil and Conflans-sur-Lanterne, which have a population of around 700 people each, 20 Minutes reports.

The player, who has not been named, became furious after being told off by the referee and then attacked him.

His lawyer argued that “anyone can have a moment of madness on the pitch”, invoking Zinedine Zidane and his infamous headbutt during the 2006 World Cup final.

However, the unconvinced judge sentenced the footballer to six months jail and ordered him to pay €1,500 in damages to the victim and €1,000 to the national referee union.