ROCHESTER (AP) - A football player has been charged with slamming a referee in the face with his helmet at the end of a semi-professional game in Upstate New York.

Police say 23-year-old Leon Woods of Rochester was arrested late Tuesday and charged with first-degree assault for the attack Oct. 24 on veteran referee Pete McCabe.

His lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Woods in court Wednesday.

McCabe had his nose, jaw and multiple bones in his face broken and will have to undergo surgery. Witnesses say he was attacked without warning at a Rochester park by a player on the losing side, the Western New York Cougars.