A crying referee had to be comforted by some of the players in a Tunisian league match between CA Bizertin and AS Marsa on Christmas Eve after the crowd chanted insults about the official’s mother.

Yassin Hroh appeared to be reduced to tears as spectators at the Ligue 1 clash sang songs about his recently passed mother, who is said to have died in the September 2013 protests during the recent political crisis in the country.

In a touching scene, members of both teams plead with the offending members of the crowd to stop and the game is paused while they offer some words of solace for the referee.

Following the game, Hroh reportedly said:

Hearing of such insults, it’s hard to hold back tears.

No one likes to hear his mother insulted.

God bless my mother.