Player that Broke Referee's Arm Receives Massive Suspension

PUBLICATION

TJ Tucker
November 21, 2023 (6:01 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Some might think it's excessive. In all honesty, considering the circumstances, he's probably lucky to not receive a lifetime ban.

Three days ago, a player in a fifth-tier league in Sweden hit a referee during a game. The official was completely unaware that a hit was coming, had to be taken to hospital where he was treated for a broken arm. The player, 22-year-old Caper Gilberg, said it was an accident after the game. The video showed a hit directly to an unaware official that looked intentional in every way.

Gilberg was initially unapologetic, putting the blame on the referee.

"The referee gets in the way, as he did the whole game. I had to stop their player and then the referee got in the way. Then he had to take the hit even though it was not the intention, of course."

Perhaps realizing what was coming, Gilberg changed his tune completely the following day, claiming he deeply regretted what had happened and was ashamed. Today he was suspended for over a year. HockeyTrean has ruled he cannot play again until after December 31st, 2024.

"All in all, a unanimous committee finds that Casper Gillberg should be suspended for the following reasons: - Showed total indifference to the safety of the referee, when he chooses, with reckless force, to complete a hit against a referee even though he is aware that it is a referee he is hitting."

In other words, the committee felt the hit was intentional. It also said that Gilberg being suspended for an illegal hit on an opponent for six weeks last season was taken into account, and he was labelled a repeat offender.