A 46-year-old man who was refereeing a soccer game is in critical condition after being punched by a 17-year-old soccer player.
The ref, whose name was not released, was refereeing a match at Eisenhower Junior High School in Utah, at about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, and gave a player a yellow card, who turned around and punched him in the head.
On Monday, the teen was arrested, booked into juvenile detention and is being investigated for aggravated assault. Officers say the player did not use a weapon but is being investigated for that potential charge due to the seriousness and severity of the attack and injury.
The teams playing were not affiliated with the Utah Youth Soccer Association, and the referee was not a member of the Utah State Soccer Referee Committee.
Scott Harward, a 34-year referee administrator said he does not even know the name of the man who was attacked; he also stated that in 30 years there have only been three or four assault cases against refs.
Shawn Halladay is the state disciplinary chairman for the Referee Association and has been refereeing soccer games since 1980. He agreed that attacks on referees are rare.
Halladay said at big games, children watch their parents yell at referees because and believe they are entitled to do so."[They think] it's my right to abuse this person, it doesn't matter if it's a kid or man or woman, they just abuse. And at some point it has to have an effect on the kids."
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