Utah soccer referee dies after attack by illegal Mexican teenage player

A Utah soccer referee who suffered head injuries when he was punched in the face by a teenage player has died, authorities said.

The 17-year-old player struck the referee, Ricardo Portillo, in the head on April 27 after Portillo penalized the teenager during a soccer game in a Salt Lake City suburb, according to the Unified Police of Greater Salt Lake.

Portillo, 46, died late on Saturday at an area hospital, the police said in a statement posted on the department's website.

The player, whose name was withheld because he is a juvenile, was upset because Portillo had issued him a yellow card, police said. A yellow card is a caution for actions that range from a foul to unsportsmanlike conduct.

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