By Mark Baber
May 6 – Relatives of Ricardo Portillo held a candlelight vigil on Sunday in memory of the 46 year old Salt Lake City referee who died on Saturday night, a week after being punched by a 17-year old to whom he had given a yellow card.
Johana Portillo, the eldest of his three daughters, said: “He was a father, he was a friend, he was a grandfather, he left a whole family behind. They should think before they do something stupid.”
Of the teenage suspect, currently in detention, she said: “I feel sorry for him. I feel for his family. But if he was old enough to do what he did, then he’s responsible to pay for it.”
Portillo was refereeing a match in the Liga Continental de Futbol when the player hit him as he was writing his name in his notebook. Portillo collapsed to the ground and was taken to the Intermountain Medical Centre, conscious but complaining of nausea and dizziness and vomiting blood. His daughter tried to comfort him by saying he would be OK, whereupon he held her hand tightly and replied “No,” before slipping into a coma due to swelling on his brain.
Mario Vazquez, the Liga Continental de Futbol president and a friend of Portillo said “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Portillo family during this difficult time. Ricardo will always be with us.”
Johana Portillo, 26, said she hopes her father’s death leads to better self-control from players, sentiments echoed by his brother-in-law, Pedro Lopez, also a soccer referee, who called on players worldwide to respect referees saying, “Remember that we are human beings, and we make mistakes. Don’t take justice into your own hands.”
Pedro Lopez said he planned to continue refereeing, and do so remembering Ricardo Portillo.
Ricardo Portillo had been attacked before, but insisted on continuing to referee because the game was his passion.
On Sunday night, his daughter, in tears, said her father would always be in her heart. “It’s going to be very difficult,” she said. “But I know he’s going to help us from heaven.”
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