Referee lawyer says football player seen in viral video attacked client, 2nd referee at SW Miami-Dade Park.

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FL. (WSVN) — Unsportsmanlike conduct took place at a soccer field in southwest Miami-Dade when an angry player punched his client in the head before hitting another referee, according to a referee’s attorney.

Video of the Sunday football brawl has surfaced on social media.

Lawyer Andres Vidales, who represents the judge who he says was punched in the head, said his client could have died.

“He was told that two centimeters to the left or to the right, he probably would not have taken such a blow,” he said.

Vidales said it all happened during a senior football game at Kendall Soccer Park near Southwest 80th Street and 127th Avenue.

Vidales said his client first issued a warning to the player in question after he became aggressive and started threatening members of the opposing team.

As the game went on, Vidales said, the player became even more aggressive and started insulting the referees.

When the referees tried to eject the player, the situation became physical.

He didn’t even raise his head [my client] says he felt a blow to his face,” Vidales said.

He said no cameras were running when the player hit the first referee, but mobile phone video captured what happened next.

“After he started attacking my client, [the player] turns away and hits another referee who was on the field,” he said.

The footage shows the assailant kicking the second referee, who is lying on the ground.

“He runs up furiously and kicks him all over the head with his right foot,” Vidales said.

Academia Tiki-Taki USA, the player’s host team, released a statement on social media acknowledging the incident. Specifically, it reads: “We want to make it clear that the academy categorically rejects any action and violent action in any field and even more so in the field of sports … therefore, with great responsibility, we confirm that the actions of this person do not represent who we are.”

As for the injured referee, his lawyer said he is being treated by doctors and hopes to return to the job he loves so much, but right now he lives in fear.​

“He’s afraid to go out, he’s afraid to get back on the field,” Vidales said. “He’s also scared because he almost lost his life.”

Vidales said he and his client are in contact with Miami-Dade police and plan to press charges.

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