Overview
- A Steubenville player ran at and struck a referee after a teammate was shown a red card during a playoff match against New Philadelphia on Tuesday night, Oct. 27, knocking the official to the turf.
- The referee was taken to a hospital and treated for broken ribs and a collapsed lung and is reported by the OHSAA to be doing better.
- The OHSAA has contacted the school and says it will consider further sanctions once it reviews the discipline the school imposes, and the school has signaled the punishment will be significant.
- Video of the hit spread online and has prompted public calls for criminal charges, but no formal criminal action had been reported in the latest coverage.
- Physical assaults on officials are among the most serious violations under OHSAA rules so the case could lead to school discipline, association penalties, and a possible criminal probe while the referee and local community cope with the aftermath.