I had to share a nice, feel-good moment from my neck of the soccer woods on this fine Sunday in July.
It starts with something heinous, though.
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Let’s begin here: The Buffalo District Soccer League (BDSL) is an 81-team men’s league in Western New York. It also conducts the Tehel Cup, the oldest amateur cup tournament in the United States.
Unfortunately, this post is about neither of the positives associated with those facts, as last weekend saw a player lose control after receiving a red card. The player in question hit referee Mike Crane, leaving the official with a head injury.
It’s not the first time we’ve written about referee assault; Unfortunately, typing the phrase “referee dies” in the PST search tool brings up multiple entries.
Yet the incident understandably caused a stir in the Buffalo soccer community, as the BDSL rallied around Crane and its officials.
Clubs assembled before their matches to take photos with the referee units, tagging each on Twitter with the hashtag #UnitedForCrane.
Let’s hope this post serves as a reminder to all weekend warriors and professional players alike: It’s still just a game.
West Side FC and @LykanFC08. We appreciate the referee who make our great @OfficialBDSL possible. Thanks to all for the hard work in a really terrible situation in the past week. #UnitedForCrane pic.twitter.com/qLWMnFVywW
— West Side FC (@WestSideFC_BDSL) July 16, 2018
Splitting the points with @LackawannaFCY today on a 4-4 draw
— Celtic United (@_CelticUnited) July 16, 2018
Goals:
@Josh_Beshaw @btheuerkauf13 @BrandonGalanti7 @Alex_Reid22
Assists:
Strangio 2x@BrandonGalanti7 #UnitedForCrane pic.twitter.com/CHN9kqj6iH
#UnitedForCrane No Violence. pic.twitter.com/kJkAM3B1Lb
— Inter SC (@InterSC1990) July 15, 2018
Well played match at Hamburg HS. 2 goals by @LykanUnited in the last couple minutes the difference. 3-1 final. Goal by Chris Duerr assist by Zach Jividen.#UnitedForCrane pic.twitter.com/qUbainCWkp
— WNY United SC (@WNYUnitedSC) July 15, 2018
Roos and @PendletonUtdFC stand together #UnitedForCrane pic.twitter.com/xau6kM9z3Z
— Roos FC (@RoosFC) July 15, 2018
We would like to thank the referees for a well officiated game, and all that they do for the teams throughout the entire soccer season #UnitedForCrane pic.twitter.com/ohCZIaQ9Sr
— Niagara FC (@FCNiagara) July 16, 2018
A show of peace between @OfficialBDSL players from both teams and tonight's referees: League referee Michael Crane was attacked by a player and suffered a concussion on Sunday; more info still needed in regard to the charges filed against Jeffrey Sekyere. pic.twitter.com/LKcX1Qth04
— Buffalo News Soccer (@BN_Soccer) July 13, 2018
Good clean game boys. #UnitedForCrane pic.twitter.com/GzLA9oBYnc
— Queenston FC (@QueenstonFC) July 16, 2018
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