Female reporter 'molested' by fan in 'abhorrent' live moment

Italian authorities are investigating a shocking incident that saw a female football journalist "molested" on air during coverage of a recent match.

Football presenter Greta Beccaglia was conducting a live cross at the end of the Serie A match between Empoli and Fiorentina when she was violated by a male fan.

IT'S COMPLICATED: Twist in Matildas captain Sam Kerr's new romance

'DISGRACEFUL': Socceroos at centre of 'outrageous' China drama

HORRIFIC: Footballer arrested over sickening assault on teammate

Footage showed Beccaglia seemingly being slapped on the backside by a man as he walked past the journalist while she was reporting back to the studio.

Beccaglia can be seen spinning around in shock as the spectator in a purple jacket and dark hoodie walked past her.

A clearly disgusted Beccaglia shouted at the man in Italian: “Sorry, you can’t do this," as she waved a finger at the culprit in anger.

The Order of Journalists of Tuscany expressed their outrage over the incident and also the response of the show's host Giorgio Micheletti, who simply said "don't take it" to the reporter.

“Those in the studio, instead of condemning the gesture and the molester, invited the colleague to ‘not take it’. No words of solidarity were heard towards her from the conductor,” a translated statement claimed.

“The Order reiterates that the time has come to stop minimising and remember that violence against women is above all a cultural and societal problem.”

Incident sparks outrage in Italy

Serie A has also released a statement to show its support for the reporter and condemn the man responsible.

“Violence is expressed in many forms. We condemn them all, today and forever,” the league posted on Twitter.

“Solidarity with Greta Beccaglia.”

The incident was a particularly bad look for Italian football as it coincided with a campaign called: “Give violence against women the red card”.

Many Serie A players sported red marks on their cheeks to promote the message speaking out against domestic violence.

Over the weekend, Beccaglia liked a series of posts on Twitter, which referred to her ordeal as “intolerable” and “abhorrent”, and condemned the man responsible for the shocking assault.

The match saw Empoli come from behind to steal a late 2-1 victory that leaves them 11th on the table.

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.