A recreational soccer player accused of killing a referee with one punch made his first appearance in a Detroit court room yesterday.
Bassel Saad is charged with second-degree murder.
Prosecutors say on June 29 he struck referee John Bieniewicz, who was about to penalize him and throw him out of the game.
Saad's lawyer says his client got "emotional" in a competitive game.
Prosecutors describe the punch as "very violent."