Soccer referee killed over disputed call

[renard_ruse]

Wherever the "beautiful game" goes, violence seems to follow. Perhaps its time to ban this scourge from our society?

A soccer referee who was punched by a player after calling a foul on him during a recreational soccer game in Utah died Saturday night, a week after he was hit once in the face. The suspect, who received a yellow card penalty from referee Ricardo Portillo, was arrested Monday and remains incarcerated, officials say.

The incident seems to have been sparked by a call made by the referee during a corner kick, according to a police report obtained by The Salt Lake City Tribune. Portillo judged that the player, a goalie, had shoved an opposing player; he called a foul on him.


http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way...ree-dies-one-week-after-being-felled-by-punch

 

[renard_ruse]

Or maybe we should outlaw fists?

 

[cjh]

Thank God violence never follows America's favorite pastime: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2008/05/27/little-league-sucker-punc_n_103788.html

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Poor baby! Now his life is over because the ref was a hater!

 

[koalabear]

Any one have the Chicago weekend murder stats?

 

[renard_ruse]

League mourns loss of Utah referee killed by punch

Soccer tragedy » DA will look at possible charges against teenage player this week.


By Kimball Bennion

Salt Lake County prosecutors on Tuesday are expected to consider whether to file criminal charges against a teenage soccer player accused of punching a referee who later died after nearly a week in a coma.


The 17-year-old boy accused of striking Portillo during the April 27 match was arrested two days later and has been held for investigation of aggravated assault ever since. The boy’s name has not been released.

Authorities say the boy, a goalkeeper, was upset with Portillo, after the official penalized the teen with a yellow card for rough play. The teen allegedly struck Portillo in the side of the head as the referee recorded the infraction in his official’s notebook.