MICHAEL VICK OUGHT TO JUST CLAIM THE DOGS WERE PLAYING SOCCER:

REFEREE KNOCKED OUT IN MASS BRAWL: Local Football Match Ends in Hospital (Der Spiegel , 6/12/07)

In the 85th minute, with Mahndorf leading 3-1, two opposing players had an altercation on the pitch and the referee sent both of them off with red cards, Bremen police said.

Once they had got to the sideline they started fighting again, with the Mardin player punching his opponent in the face. The referee saw what had happened, ran over and told them he would be making a note of the incident.

At this point the Mardin coach, 30, stormed on the pitch and knocked the red card and notebook out of the referee's hand.

"In the ensuing tumult the 37-year-old referee was punched in the face and fell to the ground. While he was lying on the floor he was kicked in the neck several times, with the coach apparently taking part in the kicking," the police said.

The coach was hauled away by his own players and broke his shoulder in the process. He had to be taken to hospital.