Referee punched by angry soccer player is declared dead

[Jazzy]

Soccer was a passion for 44-year-old John Bieniewicz, who lived and loved the game.

The married father of two sons was refereeing a match on Sunday when authorities said a 36-year-old player punched him in the head, knocking him unconscious.

Doctors declared Bieniewicz of Westland brain dead today, but he is being kept on a ventilator until his organs can be harvested and donated through Gift of Life, said James Acho, Bieniewicz’s friend of 30 years.

Witnesses told the Free Press that Bieniewicz was punched when he was about to eject a player, who had been complaining about a call made during the match in Livonia, resulting in a second violation to be issued against him. Several people playing on the opposing team of Bassel Abdul-Amir Saad, the man accused of throwing the punch, said Bieniewicz was looking down, trying to get a violation card when it happened.

“John had no idea it was coming,” said Matt Tunstall, 41, of Ann Arbor, who said he was about 10-15 yards away, waiting to come into the game.

He hit the ground at Mies Park, and stunned players ran onto field and noticed he wasn’t breathing.

“He turned blue immediately,” said Daniel Winkler, 33, of Lathrup Village. “My wife called 911.”

Witnesses said Bieniewicz did nothing to provoke the attack and officiated neutrally. They called what happened “outrageous” and “unfathomable.” The match was being played by men ages 30 and older.

Saad fled, and some players got the license plate number and a description of the vehicle to give to police, players said.

Saad of Dearborn was arraigned Monday on a felony charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and received a $500,000 cash/surety bond.

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