Footy match is abandoned after spectator throws wild coward punch at a teenage player, leading to internet manhunt to track him down

A furious father has taken to the internet to locate a spectator who threw a coward punch at his 15-year-old son on the field during a rugby league match on the weekend.

The incident occured during an Auckland Rugby League under-16s clash between the Otara Scorpions and Manurewa Marlins  on Saturday.

The footage shows the man calmly walk onto the field and throw the punch, only for the teenage Scorpions player to see him just in time and move out of the way so that it made minimal conduct.

Officials called off the remainder of the match.

The father of the player attacked is now appealing for the identity of the spectator on social media platform X. 

'Needing help identifying this piece of s*** in the blue/yellow/white top who thought it was OK to run on the field and blind shot my 15yr old son,' the post said.

 'Manurewa Marlins won't give up his name, so I'm letting social media do its thing!'

Marlins chair Karla Matua said social media 'does not always show the full context of the situation and we are aware and have evidence to support this'.

Matua told New Zealand website Newshub the club was aware of the footage and 'does not condone violence'.

'Our priority has been to ensure our team and team management are safe mentally, physically and spiritually and we have wrapped support services around them,' he said.

'We are in positive dialogue with Otara RL and both clubs want the same thing, for our kids to be safe and those responsible are dealt with appropriately.

'We are following ARL (Auckland Rugby League) processes and look forward to positive outcomes for our kids and whānau [families].'

Otara Rugby League Club general manager Willie Maea said they were working with the Marlins to identify the spectator and bring the matter forward to police.

'While the actions on the field were controlled by the referee, they don't condone adults coming on the field,' he said.

'For us, we're wanting to identify these men, charge them with assault and trespass them from this ground.'

The ARL also released a statement confirming that police would become involved in the incident. 

'ARL has zero tolerance for this type of violence and behaviour,' it said.

'We have judicial processes in place and when necessary, we will involve the police.

'This matter is now being managed by the police and we are unable to be commenting further.'

A police spokesperson told Newshub those involved were encouraged to report the incident 'so we can determine what has occurred'.