Salford City goalkeeper shown red card after urinating during match at Bradford Park Avenue

Salford City goalkeeper Max Crocombe was shown a straight red card with three minutes remaining of Saturday's early kick-off against Bradford Park Avenue in National League North.

A supporter is also believed to have reported 24-year-old New Zealander Crocombe to police.

Salford led 2-1 at the time of the dismissal and held on for victory with midfielder Richie Allen playing the final moments between the sticks.

Bradford Park Avenue's official Twitter account tweeted: "RED CARD! This is bizarre. Salford goalkeeper Max Crocombe has been dismissed and no one knows why..."

The account added: "We can confirm that Crocombe has been sent off for urinating during the game. We are not joking."

And two hours after the match finished, Crocombe posted on his Twitter page (@meeiix): "I'd like to sincerely apologise for the incident today. I was in a very uncomfortable position and made an error in judgement which spoiled a great win.

"My intention was never to offend anyone and I'd like to apologise to both clubs and both sets of supporters and it won't happen again. Max."

Bradford PA club secretary Colin Barker said: "That's correct. He was told by the steward twice not to do it and he went ahead and had a pee.

"He went to the side of the stand as I understand it. I didn't actually see it but the referee definitely sent him off for it because he was alerted to it by his linesman.

"One of our spectators has made a formal complaint so we're waiting to see what will happen from there. But there's no secret about it. It's been reported to the police."

Salford, part-owned by former Manchester United quintet Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs, were pre-season favourites for promotion to the National League and sit second in the table behind Harrogate Town.

The Greater Manchester club reacted to the dismissal by tweeting: "Red Card! Crocombe see red for something off the ball. No one has a clue what has happened."

Former England striker Gary Lineker made a joke of the incident, writing on Twitter: "If that's true, I'd have been given a life-time ban for a s***"

Lineker admitted in 2010 that owing to a stomach bug he accidentally defecated on the pitch during England's match against the Republic of Ireland at the 1990 World Cup.