A referee, Jose Valdemar Hernandez Capetillo, has died in hospital
in Mexico after being attacked by a player he red-carded during a match.
According to a report by The Sun News, Jose Valdemar Hernandez
Capetillo lost his fight for life after spending a week in a coma.
He was rushed unconscious to hospital in Xalapa, the capital city
of the eastern Mexico State of Veracruz, on December 24 after being
assaulted by a player from amateur side Guadalajara during a match in
the city’s PEMEX – El Castillo stadium.
He died in the early hours of yesterday.
Valentin Ramirez, president of professional referees’ association AMA, said in a statement: “Jose
Valdemar Hernandez Capetillo, a part-time referee, died in the early
hours of yesterday morning as a result of an acute traumatic brain
injury he suffered during an assault by a player in the Pemex stadium in
Xalapa, Veracruz.
“Action is now being taken to ensure justice is done following the death of our colleague.
“We have to eradicate incidents of this kind. Rest in peace Jose Valdemar Hernandez Capetillo.”
The player, identified only by the name Milton, is believed to be
in custody after being arrested although there was no official word on
his whereabouts today.
Last month an amateur football match in Fresnillo, the second
largest city in the north central Mexican state of Zacatecas, ended in a
chilling execution when a violent fan was shot in the head from close
range by an opposition supporter after a fist fight.
The murdered man slumped to the ground after being shot as he tried
to stone players celebrating their win over his side in a confrontation
which erupted minutes after the final whistle.
The gunman – alongside a pal also carrying a gun – then walked up
to him as he lay injured in the dirt and fired off another three shots
from close range in front of several young children.
One of the boys who witnessed the scene – acting as if he was no
stranger to violence that youngsters in most Western European countries
thankfully never have to see – was filmed skipping away after the murder
as if he was in his school playground.
In November last year a referee died in Tulancingo in the Mexican
state of Hidalgo died after being head-butted by a player he red-carded.
The player fled the scene in a pick-p truck amid chaotic scenes as the ref was receiving medical attention.