A Utah referee was punched in the face by a teenager after a call during a recreational soccer game and died Saturday.
It was just another game in the Fut International soccer league in Taylorsville, Utah (near Salt Lake City). That is, until referee Ricardo Portillo blew the whistle and cited a player a foul resulting in a yellow card, which ended up being a deadly decision for the 46-year-old.
When a player receives their first yellow card, it is a warning, and a second yellow card results in ejection from the game.
After his call, the 17-year-old player turned around and punched Portillo in the face. After coughing up blood, Portillo was rushed to the hospital.
The teenager was playing goalie and pushed an opposing forward as he was trying to score a goal, reports Newsday. Portillo responded to the push by presenting the goalie with a yellow card.
Portillo’s daughter, Johana (26), said, "When he was writing down his notes, he just came out of nowhere and punched him."
Portillo suffered from serious internal head injuries, according to CNN. For seven days, he remained in critical condition, suffering from swelling in his brain and slipping into a coma, and passed away on Saturday night.
"He loved soccer," his daughter Johana Portillo told CNN. "We just never thought this was going to happen. He loved what he did and it was his passion."
The teenager who punched Portillo is currently in juvenile detention and charged with aggravated assault. He could also face additional charges since Portillo died.