The handsome gentleman pictured here is Amador Yenkenes, a 57-year-old Miami jeweler who faces third-degree felony assault charges for slugging the referee in a soccer game between two teams comprised entirely of players aged 55 and up.
Yenkenes had been agitated all night, disagreed with a call and kicked the ball in anger, [referee Nicholas] Sismanidis said. That drew a red card and an ejection. He punched Sismanidis in the jaw and ran. The referee, a civil engineer who also officiates college soccer games, called Miami-Dade police…
The opposing team, leading 1-0, won the game on a forfeit after the attack.
What!? They ended the game after one little case of felony assault on the referee? Sheesh. This is just one more sign soccer still has a long way to go in America. In Europe and South America, beating the referees is part of the halftime entertainment.
