John Bieniewicz, 44, was a dialysis technician at Mott Children’s Hospital. He was also an amateur soccer ref on the side. While officiating an adult-league soccer match on Sunday he was punched in the head by one of the players and passed away two days later.
U.S. soccer ref dies after being punched during match: http://t.co/myXYrJRfi7 pic.twitter.com/Ci7SfFhAB2
— CBC News (@CBCNews) July 2, 2014
image via Twitter from CBCNews
The match was at a park in the Detroit suburbs when he was punched in the head. Immediately after being hit he dropped to the ground unconscious and not breathing. He was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital in critical condition. On Tuesday he was officially pronounced dead.
36-year-old Baseel Abdul-Amir Saad of Dearborn, Michigan was being ejected from the game by Bieniewicz when he struck the referee via Yahoo. He was originally charged with assault and intent to do great bodily harm.
On a website dedicated to Bieniewicz’s memory the first paragraph reads:
“John Bieniewicz was a man who lived life to the fullest. He had a passion for his family, a passion for the kids at Mott Children's Hospital, and a passion for soccer. John died doing what he loved: Officiating a soccer game.”
Wayne County medical examiner's spokeswoman, Mary Mazur, said an autopsy of John Bieniewicz took place Thursday. They claim that his death should be classified as a homicide according to HuffingtonPost.
Brian Berry, a defense attorney, is sticking with the idea that Saad is not guilty.