A 64-year-old former soccer referee, Randall Smith, has been charged with assault and battery following an incident during a high school soccer match. The altercation, captured on a social media video that has since gained viral traction, occurred on Oct. 14 at the Traverse Bay Area Youth Soccer Field, where Smith is alleged to have pushed a 16-year-old team manager over a bench after tripping over him, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
According to Michigan State Police, the incident took place as Smith was officiating the game alongside the sidelines. The sequence of events escalates with Smith raising his flag, then grabbing the boy by the shirt, and subsequently pushing him over the bench. Smith, initially identified as a 61-year-old man, faced arrest on Oct. 28 and has posted bond.
In further detail provided by WILX, the altercation happened during an MHSAA Division 2 district soccer match between Traverse City St. Francis and Gaylord, with Smith no longer a registered referee with the MHSAA following the incident. His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 4, where the outcome of the pretrial proceedings will be keenly observed by the local community.
UpNorthLive adds to the narrative by mentioning that troopers submitted their report, along with other evidence, to the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor’s Office, leading to the arraignment of Smith on the assault and battery charge in the 86th District Court in Grand Traverse County last Thursday, "The initial investigation indicated that [Randall] Smith (64) was running on the sidelines officiating the game, when he tripped over the juvenile who was standing in front of the bench," troopers clarified, his next court appearance set for the morning of December 4 at 9:30 a.m.
