Attacks On Refs Mar Pasco Amateur Soccer League Play

One man has been arrested and two have been told they will be cited for attacks on referees after their teams lost in amateur soccer league semifinal playoff games Sunday.

Manuel Alejandro Corral, 29, was arrested for head-butting referee Keith Welch after Lamb Weston beat Barcelona 2-1 in Division II of the Pasco Soccer League. Lamb Weston had been awarded a goal with less than a minute to play.

After the Crusaders beat Colima 2-1 in Division I, referees Kelly Baker and Steve Schaus said they took punches from the Torres brothers, Roberto, 18, and Francisco, 22. Police said the Torreses left the field before officers arrived, and would be cited for using force.

The incidents were the latest in a long string of brawling that has marred play in the 10-year-old league that runs seven months.

“We have a lot of great soccer, but we’ve had our problems,” league president Juan Bayona said.

Last year, the final game ended in a forfeit after a fight, and one team left to protest a referee’s decision. Two teams were suspended for one game earlier this year for a fight.

Bayona said early this year the league had made progress in reducing violence, partly by requiring all players to register with the Washington State Soccer Association.

League vice president Abel Torres, brother of the two men accused of throwing punches, said, “I would never condone that, taking swings at a ref.”

The fighting Sunday stemmed from referees’ calls throughout the season, Abel Torres said.

“Nobody is safe here,” Torres said. “Everybody thinks they can do whatever they want. Our league is not steady enough.”