Rochester, N.Y. - While a football referee lay bleeding on the field, team members of the man responsible refused to hand over their cell phones so someone could call 911. The ref was slugged in the face with a helmet belonging to a member of the losing team.
Pete McCabe has a hairline fracture in his skull. The helmet that was swung at his head broke his nose, his jaw and every bone in his face.
"He was walking off the field and remembers seeing an object just for a quick moment come by the left side of his head, and the next thing you know he was on the ground,” said McCabe’s brother-in-law Mark Whitford. “He tried to get up but had so much blood coming off of him."
The photos were taken by one of the four referees who came to his aid.
Reached by phone at his home Tuesday, Pete McCabe said, "The four guys pretty much saved my life. I have a long road ahead."
"He was very fortunate that his nose took the brunt,” Whitford said. “The doctor says he's lucky that he wasn't killed."
The game was over, the players were walking off the field. There was an altercation earlier in the match-up, but that involved a different player and appeared to have been resolved.
Two players were ejected from the game. Police say a member of the losing team, the Western New York Cougars, was responsible for the assault.
Ironically, McCabe was not even supposed to be at Edgerton Park. He was subbing for another referee who did not want to deal with the semi professional league--because of concerns over safety.
The Rochester Chapter of Certified Football Officials called this an "outrageous, cowardly act," adding "Our council will be discussing whether or not to continue to officiate these games in the future.” Their entire statement is attached to this story.
McCabe must now have reconstructive surgery. His family said he's had enough. "Pete had a love of this sport,” Whitford said. “Now he's done. He doesn't want to go back to officiating anymore. He's been doing this for 25 years. "
The referee who took the photos said he didn't go to the parking lot until after police came, fearing for his own safety.
McCabe said the other four referees at the game “pretty much saved my life,” and that there’s been an outpouring of support from the referee community.
The McCabe family is frustrated because players are not coming forward with information that would help police.
13 WHAM News were unable to reach anyone from the Cougars team to get a comment.
