A football referee has been left with second degree burns – and narrowly avoided being blinded – after an angry female fan allegedly threw boiling tea in his face.

Lider Paez, 39, was confronted after Olimpia’s match against Paraguayos in Paraguay, with fans of the former side convinced his decisions had led to their 2-0 defeat.

"He had made some dodgy calls and I guess some of the lads wanted to know why," Olimpia fan Horacio Alcaraz told local TV.

"A couple of times he let the other team get away with fouls and being offside. I also thought it seemed unfair so I am not surprised they confronted him

"And then some woman lost it and threw the cup of hot tea in his face. That was a bit much, I must say."

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