Ventura County prosecutors are deciding whether to charge a junior college football player after he allegedly punched a referee in the face.
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The incident happened in the 3rd quarter of Saturday nights game between Ventura College and Mount San Antonio College in California after a skirmish/pushing match between a couple of opposing lineman.
The referee was seen walking Schirmer back to his huddle during the game after breaking up an argument between players.
Another referee jumped in to keep Mount San Antonio players away from his fallen colleague and trainers from both teams raced onto the field to tend to the wounded referee. After police reviewed the video, he was taken to Ventura County jail, according to the Ventura County Star.
Ventura College defeated Schirmer’s Mount San Antonio College 34-29.
“I didn’t mean any of that to happen”, Schirmer told the Star.
His school says video shows the 19-year-old accidentally hit the ref with his forearm.
Ventura College quarterback Jake Luton called Schirmer’s punch “terrible” and said, “There’s no place for that in football”.
The game’s announcer, Mike Zepeda, said he thinks the college freshman just ended his football career with one punch.
Video streaming live from the game showed the line judge falling to the ground. “I did not have one thought in my mind to bring harm to you”.
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College officials and police said Saturday that the referee wasn’t interested in pressing charges.
