A referee in a Spanish regional soccer league was attacked by a player over the weekend, presumably after the player disagreed with a call.
Brutal agresión a un árbitro de 18 años en Zaragoza #Radioestadio pic.twitter.com/JYn7PUKo9l
— Radioestadio (@Radioestadio) December 11, 2016
According to ESPNFC, the 18-year old referee named Fahd Aboou El Mourabit awarded a penalty to San Juan in the 20th minute, which was converted. After booking the goalkeeper for opposing Miralbueno for dissent, an unidentified player for Miralbueno proceeded to clothesline the referee in the face and punch him while he was on the ground.
El Mourabit told Cadena Sur that he planned to report the incident to the police.
“I have been officiating since I was 15, but this is the first time it has happened to me.
“I’m still recovering from the shock. I will report it to the police.
“By no means will this incident take away my enthusiasm. I will continue to referee.
“The coaches, the players and the club executives of both teams have all apologised for what has happened.”
Angel Baiges, the vice president of Miralbueno, confirmed the player had been let go from the team and publicly apologized for the assault.
“It’s the first time we face a situation like this. It’s deplorable.
“We can only apologise to the referee as this should never happen.
“The player, who had only been a member of our team for three months, has been expelled with immediate effect.”
What a mess of a situation. It’s normal for players to get heated over a referee’s decision during a game. But to get to angry that you intentionally lay him out like that? Insanity.
Call it a hunch, but I don’t think this player has much of a future in soccer.
[ESPNFC]
