SALT LAKE CITY — Family members of a Utah soccer referee who died a week after a player punched him in the head called on athletes around the world Sunday night to hold their tempers in check so another family doesn't have to suffer.

They spoke at a candlelight vigil held on the front lawn of the Salt Lake City home of Ricardo Portillo, 46. Wearing white shirts and holding signs that read, "In loving memory of Ricky," family and friends stood around a table that had a picture of Portillo raising his arms in victory, with flowers and candles surrounding it.

MURRAY, Utah, USA

A Utah soccer referee who slipped into a coma after being punched by a teenage player during a game a week ago died Saturday night, police said.

Ricardo Portillo, 46, of Salt Lake City passed away at the hospital, where he was being treated following an assault, Unified police spokesman Justin Hoyal said.

Police have accused a 17-year-old player in a recreational soccer league of punching Portillo after the man called a foul on him and issued him a yellow card.

The two referees in charge of last week's A-League preliminary finals have been dropped for this weekend's semi-final matches after a series of blunders marred the fixtures.

Jarred Gillett and Chris Beath will be watching from the sidelines this weekend after an erroneous penalty decision cost Perth Glory a win against Melbourne Victory and several dangerous challenges were ignored in Brisbane Roar's defeat of Adelaide.

Perth owner Tony Sage says he is still distraught over his team's controversial loss to Melbourne Victory on Friday night and will ask Football Federation Australia to ban Jarred Gillett from refereeing future Glory games at home "for his own safety".

His comments came as Glory coach Alistair Edwards finally opened up over his side's elimination from the finals series following the 2-1 defeat at Etihad Stadium.