On March 10, 2012, during a competitive soccer match, a player stabbed the referee after being shown a red card and sent off. The incident took place on the field shortly after the dismissal, when the ejected player confronted the match official and produced a knife. The referee was injured and required medical attention; emergency services and law enforcement were summoned to the venue immediately. Law enforcement detained the player at the scene; subsequent reports indicated criminal charges were pursued. The governing football association for the competition opened an investigation and disciplinary proceedings to address both the individual conduct and any broader safety failings. Clubs and officials expressed concern about on-field violence and the safety of match officials following the attack. The stabbing underscored ongoing issues around referee protection at all levels of the sport. Football authorities and local police typically respond to such incidents by reviewing stadium security, enforcing stricter entry checks where necessary, and considering additional sanctions for players and clubs found complicit or negligent. Referees' unions and associations also often call for better protection measures and support for injured officials. Media coverage at the time reported on the immediate medical condition of the referee and the legal consequences for the player; outcomes such as criminal convictions or bans can vary by jurisdiction and depend on court proceedings and association hearings. Where available, official statements from the competition organizer, the national football federation, and local police provide the most reliable contemporaneous details about charges, medical status, and subsequent sporting sanctions. This summary avoids attributing specific names or unverifiable details. For precise information about legal outcomes, disciplinary decisions, or the identities of those involved, consult contemporaneous police reports, court records, official statements from the relevant football association, or reputable news coverage from March 2012.