A high school soccer referee suffered a collapsed lung and broken ribs after being violently struck full speed by a player during an Ohio playoff game between New Philadelphia and Steubenville on Tuesday night. The assault occurred after a player received a red card for appearing to mouth off to one of the refs.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Postseason Implications: With New Philadelphia winning 2-1, the focus shifts to supplemental player discipline.
The Incident and Hospitalization
The violent clash unfolded during a postseason matchup in Ohio. Following an initial red card issued for appearing to mouth off to one of the refs, one of the player’s teammates sprinted full speed into the official, laying him out and sending him crashing to the ground. The official was taken to the hospital for emergency medical treatment.
The official was treated for multiple broken ribs and a collapsed lung. A spokesperson for the Ohio High School Athletic Association stated that the official is “doing better” during recovery.
Disciplinary Action and Criminal Investigation
The offending player faces discipline that the OHSAA confirmed will extend well beyond a traditional red card suspension. According to the state athletic body, the “school has indicated that punishment will be significant, which the OHSAA agrees with.”
Captured entirely on video, the footage quickly spread across digital platforms. The circulation of the clip has generated mounting calls for criminal charges.
| Fixture Detail | Match Record |
|---|---|
| Teams Involved | New Philadelphia vs. Steubenville |
| Competition Level | Ohio High School Athletic Association Playoffs |
| Final Score | New Philadelphia 2, Steubenville 1 |
| Official’s Injuries | Collapsed lung, broken ribs |
The Match Result Over-shadowed
On the scoreboard, New Philadelphia won 2-1. Yet the final result is not what people are talking about. The physical assault on the referee eclipsed the sporting result.
