A referee for a recreational soccer league who was punched in the face by a teenager has died, police in Salt Lake City said. Read More...

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• The referee cites the player for an infraction
• The player turns around and punches him
• At first, officials think the referee's injuries are minor
• He dies after remaining in critical condition for a week

(CNN) -- A referee for a recreational soccer league who was punched in the face by a teenager has died, police in Salt Lake City said.

Ricardo Portillo, 46, was refereeing a game in the Salt Lake City suburb of Taylorsville on April 27 when he cited a player for an infraction and issued him a "yellow card."

In soccer, a yellow card is a caution to the player; a second results in his ejection from the game.

Ricardo Portillo died after being punched by a player last week

The decision, police say, prompted the 17-year-old player to turn around and punch Portillo in the face.

At first, authorities thought Portillo suffered only minor injuries from the assault.

But after he was taken to a hospital, doctors discovered he had suffered serious internal head injuries, police said. For seven days, he remained in critical condition. READ More...