A FOOTBALL club chairman has called for a full investigation after claiming fans were subjected to "brutal actions" from matchday officials during a crunch clash.

Whitehawk chairman John Summers has requested a full inquiry into events both on and off the pitch as the club lost its second leg play-off semi-final at Ebbsfleet United on Sunday.

There were heated scenes at the Kent club as the Hawks' hopes of a play-off final to get into the Vanarama National League, one level below the football league, were dashed on penalties.

One clash saw a Brighton man arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

A letter to The Argus from the club said: "Mr Summers has written to the FA, the National League, Ebbsfleet United and Kent Police regarding what he considers were brutal and unnecessary actions against Whitehawk's fans within their enclosure on Sunday [May 8].

"He states he saw flags including rainbow flags being snatched from Whitehawk fans and brutal actions against fans by the Ebbsfleet stewards following the second Whitehawk goal celebrations."

He claims innocent people were injured and abused, ultimately influencing the outcome of the game.

The statement continues: "John has also requested an investigation as to why this action was taken against the most peaceful fans in the league and what justification the safety officer had in instructing the referee to insist the penalty shootout was taken at the home fans' end."

Normally the referee offers the choice of ends for where the penalties are taken to the winner of a coin toss. An online YouTube video appears to show a match official saying he had been instructed by police to switch ends.

Kent Police has since told The Argus its officers did not speak to the referee or the club’s safety officer about this matter.

Mr Summers said he has become "extremely disillusioned" with how some fans and officials behave towards Whitehawk fans and vowed to stand by them and support them.

Peter Varney, the vice chairman of Ebbsfleet United, told The Argus an FA inquiry was underway and that he had spoken to Mr Summers.

He said: "I was talking to someone at the game and the next thing I know there is all this fighting going on.

"We don't want that sort of thing at our ground.

"At the end of the day, if anyone thinks a steward has acted in an unreasonable way then send your pictures and footage to us and send it to the FA.

"If it's wrong we will take action. The FA, as the official body, will conduct their investigation."

Mr Varney added that stewards asked Hawks fans to move rainbow flags covering sponsorship hoardings and place them on terrace railings but that the flags were draped back over the hoardings.

He added: "We actually have a very good relationship with Whitehawk, which makes this even more disappointing."

A Kent Police spokeswoman said: "A 61-year-old man from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

"He has been released on bail pending further enquiries until July 20."