Footballer punches and kicks referee over purple card as participant going through lifetime ban
A footballer could be banned for life after punching and kicking a referee when he was shown a red card, with staggering footage of the attack laying bare the vicious assault
Enrique Rivas was dragged away after his vicious attack on the referee, but he wasn’t done yet(Image: JamPress)
A footballer is facing a long ban for punching and kicking a referee in an astonishing rage after being sent off.
Shocking footage shows Enrique Rivas striking an official in the back of the head as he doubled over and fell to the turf in agony. As referee Sebastian Gomez dropped to his knees, Rivas kicked him in the side before a team-mate grabbed hold of the out of control player.
The raging player broke free and charged back towards the official to unleash more chaos, shoving another team-mate, who tripped over the referee and landed on the ground. Rivas was eventually restrained again and escorted away from the melee – with a lifetime ban now a possibility for the hothead.
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The ugly scenes unfolded at the Yoly Caceres football ground in El Calafate, Argentina, on Sunday (June 15). Argentinos del Sur were leading 1-0 at the time thanks to a sixth-minute strike from Jose ‘Coco’ Tapia.
But the match descended into chaos when Gomez showed a straight red card to Academia Canadon player Rivas for attacking an opponent.
Enraged by the decision, Rivas turned on the referee, forcing the immediate suspension of the Primera División Apertura semi-final.
Gómez was treated at the scene before being taken to a local hospital for further medical attention, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Police have launched an investigation, while the Southern League’s Disciplinary Tribunal will decide Rivas’ punishment and determine how the suspended semi-final will be concluded.
The incident comes less than two months after another Argentine footballer attacked a referee during a match in Funes.
On April 18, shocking footage showed Gaston Acosta calmly approaching referee Jesus Campreher before suddenly unleashing a vicious right hook, followed by a second punch.
Campreher instantly crumpled to the ground and lay motionless as stunned players looked on. The attacker then casually walked away while opposition players rushed to assist the injured official.
The assault took place during stoppage time of a Primera B clash between Defensores de Funes and 7 de Septiembre, with the home side leading 1-0.
Campreher suffered a fractured nasal septum and was briefly knocked unconscious by the punch.
The 28-year-old later said the violence erupted after he ruled that a challenge inside the penalty area was fair.
The match was abandoned, police were called to the ground, and Acosta was arrested at the scene.
