Teens charged over linesman death

Insane!!!!
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/03/sport/football/dutch-linesman-killed-football/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

I read this one but, at the end of the story, was wanting more details. There wasn't much discussion at all about how the people got to that point. It didn't give us any history about the boys, that specific team's reputation, or the league's history of violence.

I was stuck wondering if their parents consistently yell at the officials? How was the coach involved in this? Did he diffuse the situation or was he the catalyst? How long had this conflict been building between the official and these kids?

I was also left wondering if these kids have any idea about the weight of their actions and how it will impact them, and the people near them, for the rest of their lives? It seems silly that we're talking about a beating death as a result of officiating during a youth soccer game.

More details would be nice. It is strange that his son was playing in the game that he was refereeing. I am sure that played a part in this.

Found this in another article, "Amsterdam alderman Eric van der Burg, whose portfolio in the city covers sports, said the team from Nieuw Sloten had been in trouble twice before, once for verbally abusing a referee and once when a player got into a fight with a spectator. The player involved in the fight was suspended by the club, Van der Burg told the AP in an email."

bigtex75081 wrote:Found this in another article, "Amsterdam alderman Eric van der Burg, whose portfolio in the city covers sports, said the team from Nieuw Sloten had been in trouble twice before, once for verbally abusing a referee and once when a player got into a fight with a spectator. The player involved in the fight was suspended by the club, Van der Burg told the AP in an email."

A suspension! Wowza!
So it sounds like the Dutch are really doling out the punishment on this one.

I figure the linesman was making bad calls and the kids got tired of it. It should be a lession to officials out there that they are accountable, and poor performance may be punished.