Stiffer Penalties for Slugging a Ref: Fair or Foul?

People who assault a referee could face stiffer penalties in Michigan if proposed state legislation is passed. | freeimages.com

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Proposed state legislation could make the punishment for assaulting a sports referee or official a bit more severe, according to a Detroit Free Press report.

The bill, which was prompted by a soccer ref who died after he was punched during a match in Livonia last summer, passed the State Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 3, and now goes before the entire Michigan Senate for approval, the report stated.

RELATED: Man Whose Sucker Punch Killed Soccer Ref Accepts Plea Deal

Although assault is already illegal, the new law, If passed, would carry additional penalties in various situations, according to the report:

• an assault of a sports official would be a misdemeanor, carrying a sentence of a year in jail if the official was not injured
• an assault with injury would carry a two-year jail sentence
• an assault that results in a serious injury would be a felony and carry a maximum prison sentence of five years

Critics of the legislation say criminal laws shouldn’t give special treatment to individuals based on what they do for a living.

“Since when did Lady Justice not have a blindfold on,” Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton) said in the article. “We should be treating people equally no matter what their profession is.”

>>via the Detroit Free Press

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Should assaulting a referee or sports official come with stronger penalties as a deterrent against violent outbreaks at games? Or is the government overreaching with this legislation? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.

Patch’s Coverage of the Death of the Livonia Soccer Referee:

• Rec League Soccer Ref in Critical Condition After ‘Terrifying’ Assault
• Michigan Soccer Ref Declared Dead After ‘Terrifying’ Assault by Player
• Global Response to Lethal Attack on Soccer Ref: ‘Why?’
• Saad, Accused in Soccer Ref’s Death, Bound Over for Trial
• Prosecutors Want 2005 Report of Soccer Fight in Sucker-Punch Trial
• Man Accused of Fatally Punching Soccer Ref Gets New Judge