Referees Injured by Tortious or Criminal Behavior of Players

Victoria E. Freile and Claudia Vargas of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle have an interesting piece on a sports law topic that we often don't discuss: referees injured by the tortious or criminal behavior of players. They focus on a recent incident in an adult amateur football game played in Rochester which generated a felony charge for a player. Here's an excerpt:

On the day a football player was in court facing felony charges in connection with an attack on a referee, football officials said the adult amateur league will have a tough time finding referees to officiate games next season.

Leon R. Woods, 23, of Rochester was charged with first-degree assault, a felony, in connection with the attack on Pete McCabe, 54, of Lakeville, Livingston County. Woods, a running back for the Western New York Cougars, a team from Rochester, is accused of intentionally swinging his helmet and striking McCabe in the face after a game at Edgerton Park on Saturday.

McCabe, who was one of several referees officiating the end-of-season playoff game between Rochester and Utica, suffered severe lacerations, a broken jaw and nose and internal injuries. . . .

Referee Robert Lockhart, 54, told police that he saw a player running down the sideline, holding his helmet. "He then ran up to (McCabe) and swung his helmet like a weapon," Lockhart said. "It was like a roundhouse punch. He hit (McCabe) right in his face." McCabe immediately went limp and fell to the ground, he said. Blood was gushing from his face, he said.

To read the rest, click here.

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