Punched Ref Dies After Time in Coma

A Utah man died on Saturday after being punched while refereeing a soccer game one week ago. According to an Associated Press report, 46-year-old Ricardo Portillo died at a Salt Lake City hospital aft...
Punched Ref Dies After Time in Coma
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  • A Utah man died on Saturday after being punched while refereeing a soccer game one week ago. According to an Associated Press report, 46-year-old Ricardo Portillo died at a Salt Lake City hospital after spending a week in a coma.

    Portillo had been the referee at a recreational soccer match last Sunday, when he was punched on the side of the head by a 17-year-old player. Portillo had just given the youth, a goalkeeper, a yellow card for shoving another player. The referee became dizzy and then began vomiting blood, according to witnesses. He suffered brain swelling and fell into a coma after being transported to a nearby hospital.

    According to the AP report, the teen is currently in a juvenile detention center on aggravated assault charges. Authorities have indicated additional charges may be filed in the wake of Portillo’s death.

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