Soccer Referee Punched by Teen Player Dies
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KTXV/ABC News(TAYLORSVILLE, Utah) — A soccer referee who was allegedly punched in the face by a teenage player and slipped into a coma has died.
Ricardo Portillo, 46, had been in critical condition since the April 27 incident and passed away Saturday night, according to the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake in Utah.
Authorities will consider additional charges against the 17-year-old suspect this week since the referee died, police said in a statement.
Lt. Justin Hoyle with the Salt Lake Unified Police Department said that Portillo was a refereeing a game at Eisenhower Junior High, in Taylorsville, Utah, last weekend when he flagged the teen for a foul.
“He made a call against a player that he was unhappy with, and gave him a yellow card, so the 17-year-old turned and punched him in face,” Hoyle told ABC News.
Portillo was transported to the hospital with what were at first believed to be minor injuries, but the referee soon went into a coma, Hoyle said.
The suspect was arrested Monday and brought to Salt Lake Valley Detention Center, where he has remained in custody, according to police. His name has not been released because he is a minor.
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