A Utah soccer referee died after being attacked by one of the players

Ricardo Portillo (46), the soccer referee the recreational soccer league in Utah, died after being attacked by one of the teenage players.

On April 27, Portillo was overseeing one of the recreational soccer league games in Utah as usual and he gave one of the players a yellow card. The player, a 17-year-old, charged at Portillo and punched him in the side of the head.

At first, Portillo did not show any immediate serious symptoms but soon after he had to be transferred to ER for vomiting blood. Portillo after arriving at the hospital went into a coma with swelling in his brain.

Portillo stopped responding on Sunday. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of his death.

The 17-year-old’s identity is withheld under minor protection law.