Soccer Referee Suffers Collapsed Lung, Broken Ribs in Player Attack

WHO:

Daily Mail Sports - The injured person was a high school soccer referee; the player who tackled him was participating in a boys’ district playoff game.

TMZ - The injured person was a high school soccer referee; TMZ Sports reported the incident.

NY Post - The injured person was a high school soccer referee; a player reportedly charged at him.

WHAT:

Daily Mail Sports - The referee suffered a collapsed lung and broken ribs after a player tackled him.

TMZ - The referee was “badly injured” after a player “obliterated” him on the pitch; the headline attributes the attack to a red card.

NY Post - The referee was treated for a collapsed lung and broken ribs after a player slammed into him and knocked him to the ground; the player then reportedly tried to run away.

WHERE:

Daily Mail Sports - The incident took place in Steubenville, Ohio.

TMZ - The incident occurred during a playoff game in Ohio.

NY Post - The incident occurred during a high school soccer game.

WHEN:

Daily Mail Sports - The incident occurred on Tuesday night.

TMZ - The incident occurred on Tuesday night.

WHY:

Daily Mail Sports - The article described the tackle as “inexplicably.”

TMZ - The headline connected the attack to a red card; the article described the incident as “bizarre.”

HOW:

Daily Mail Sports - A player tackled the referee during the game.

TMZ - The player struck the referee on the pitch.

NY Post - The player charged at the referee, slammed into him, knocked him down, and reportedly attempted to flee.

(UPDATED October 29, 2026 04:08 UTC)

A high school soccer referee suffered a collapsed lung and broken ribs after a player tackled him during a boys’ district playoff game in Steubenville, Ohio. The player reportedly charged into the referee, knocked him to the ground, and then tried to run away. The incident happened during the game, and a red card was linked to the attack.