"I fell and I don't remember anything else. When I got up, I was dizzy and nauseous. Nothing like this has ever happened to me."
The quote belongs to Dalma Cortadi, an Argentinian referee who was brutally attacked by a male player on Sunday during a regional game between Deportivo Independencia and Deportivo Garmense in the city of Tres Arroyos.
Soccer player punches female referee in Argentina
Cortadi had just shown a yellow card when Deportivo Garmense defender Cristian Tirone, possessed by the demon of rage, ran to her and unleashed a savage and cowardly punch over her face.
To add an extra layer of shame: He did it behind her back.
Desde la Asociación Argentina de Árbitros repudiamos fuertemente la violencia manifestada dentro de la cancha hacia nuestra colega Dalma Cortadi.
En el desarrollo de sus funciones arbitrales en un partido amateur, fué agredida brutal y físicamente por el jugador Cristian Tirone pic.twitter.com/H0krPrEqiP— Asociación Argentina de Árbitros (@aaaprensa) July 31, 2022
Despite standing up quickly after the hit, Cortadi suffered several injuries that kept her in a local hospital for several days. According to the medical report, she has head and neck traumas as well as multiple bruises over her body.
After the attack, officials suspended the game immediately while the police entered the pitch to arrest Tirone for minor injuries and violent behavior during a sporting event.
El golpeador Cristian Tirone, quien agredió a la árbitra en Tres Arroyos está detenido y se le aplicaría la ley del deporte, así como legislación sobre violencia de género, "Le va a caer todo el peso de la ley", dijeron desde la Agencia de Prevención de la Violencia en el Deporte pic.twitter.com/TB22ewAPjb
— Miguel Parra (@PaMiguelangelpa) August 1, 2022
A few hours later, Deportivo Garmense condemned the player's actions and announced they were cutting ties with him.