Assistant referee is rushed to hospital after being taken off on a stretcher during Championship clash

Assistant referee Rob Smith has been rushed to hospital after being stretchered off during West Brom’s clash with Middlesbrough in the Championship.

The incident happened in the early exchanges of the match which saw the league’s third-placed side host Boro who lie in eighth.

Medics immediately ran towards the linesman, who appeared to faint on the touchline, as the Hawthorns descended into a worried hush. 

Play resumed around eight minutes later with Jacob Miles, who was the fourth official, wired up and readied to take on the duties of the assistant referee. 

Play resumed around eight minutes later with Jacob Miles, who was the fourth official, wired up and readied to take on the duties of the assistant referee 

The Hawthorns descended into a concerned hush as medics attended to Smith

A goal from Hayden Hackney from the edge of the box saw the away side take all three points

It later emerged Eddie Smart, a member of the home crowd, stood in as fourth official. 

Hayden Hackney’s 73rd-minute strike from the edge of the box saw the away side take all three points. 

West Brom posted on X: ‘There’s a stoppage in play as one of the referee’s assistants receives treatment.’