Footballer jailed for killing referee

A Football player in America has been jailed for killing a referee with single punch after he was booked in Michigan United Soccer League Match.

The referee, John Bieniewicz was about to show the footballer Bassel Saad a second yellow card but Saad knocked the 37-year-old match official unconscious.

John Bieniewicz died two days after the game in June last year.

Bassel Saad pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced on Friday to at least eight years in jail.

Mr Bieniewicz's widow, Kristen held up a red card and said "I would like to serve Mr Saad with the red card he was entitled to," as Saad was about to be taken from the court.

Judge Thomas Cameron said: "For better or for worse, you've come to personify all that's wrong with many people's belief about the escalation of violence in sports."

Saad was ordered to pay $9,200 (£6,200) in funeral expenses.