A 46-year-old soccer referee in Salt Lake City, Utah died after being punched by a 17-year-old player during a soccer game. The player attacked the referee, Ricardo Portillo, after Portillo gave the player a yellow card during the game. More of the story from the Detroit Free Press:
A 46-year-old soccer referee who was punched by a teenage player during a game and later slipped into a coma has died, police said.
Ricardo Portillo of Salt Lake City passed away at the hospital, where he was being treated following the assault last weekend, Unified police spokesman Justin Hoyal said Saturday night.
Police have accused a 17-year-old player in a recreational soccer league of punching Portillo after the man called a foul on him and issued him a yellow card.
"The suspect was close to Portillo and punched him once in the face as a result of the call," Hoyal said in a press release.
The teen, whose name hasn't been released because of his age, has been booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of aggravated assault.
Hoyal said authorities will consider additional charges since Portillo has died.
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