Former AFL executive Ali Fahour is under police investigation for assault over an on-field punch during a Melbourne local league game.

Fahour stood down from his role as AFL diversity manager on Wednesday night after the Northern Football league suspended him for 14 weeks, triggering his deregistration from any league in Australia.

Fahour was playing for West Preston-Lakeside in the Northern Football League on Saturday when he rushed into a scuffle and punched Whittlesea defender Dale Saddington, knocking him out.

Police on Thursday said they were investigating and had a statement from 33-year-old Saddington.

“Whittlesea Crime Investigation Unit is investigating an allegation of assault that occurred during a football match at Whittlesea on Saturday 1 July,” a police spokeswoman said in a statement.

“A statement has been obtained from the victim, a 33-year-old Whittlesea man. As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan on Thursday announced Fahour had quit his role, and named Grant Williams as his temporary replacement.