Elisha Anderson

USA TODAY Sports

A referee who authorities said was punched by a player during a soccer match in Livonia, Mich., Sunday has been declared dead, leaving behind a wife and two young sons.

John Bieniewicz, 44, of Westland, Mich., was on the ground and unconscious when police arrived, police said in a news release.

James Acho, Bieniewicz's friend of 30 years, said Bieniewicz is being kept on a ventilator until his organs can be harvested and donated through Gift of Life.

Bassel Abdul-Amir Saad, 36, of Dearborn, Mich., was arraigned Monday on a felony charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and received a $500,000 cash/surety bond.

"The charges will be reviewed and amended when appropriate confirmations are made and other necessary documentation is received," said Maria Miller, a spokeswoman with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Bieniewicz worked as the lead medical assistant in the Pediatric Chronic Dialysis unit at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich..

"He's a fantastic human being," Acho said. "A guy who lives life to the fullest."

A fund has been set up at JohnBieniewiczMemorial.com to help with funeral and burial expenses and to also help his children, ages 9 and 13, moving forward, he said.

Bieniewicz was licensed to referee professional, collegiate, high school and rec league soccer and was very passionate about the game, often refereeing up to three games on a Saturday.

"He just absolutely lived it and loved it," Acho said.

Saad's attorney, Brian Berry, said his client cooperated with the police investigation and voluntarily turned himself in.

"Our hearts are saddened to learn of the passing of John Bieniewicz. May God bless him and his family members as they deal with this loss," Berry said in an email to the Free Press.

"Based on certain witness statements that have not yet been published, it is believed that the facts of this case have been mischaracterized," the e-mail said. "Mr. Saad is presumed innocent unless and until a fact finder determines differently. As tragic as this event is, we must keep open minds and listen and wait for all the facts of this case to unfold."

Scott Herkes, 39, was playing in the adult soccer match Sunday and said he was about 30 yards away when he saw the referee punched by a player on the opposing team.

"It was terrifying," he said.

He said it happened as Bieniewicz, who had stopped the game to eject Saad, was looking down, and he didn't see the punch coming.

Herkes said Saad was complaining about a call made by a referee and was issued a violation, his second in the game.

There were about 30 players at the game and a handful of spectators, many of whom saw what happened, he said.

"I have never in my life seen something like this," Herkes said.

He said the man who threw the punch fled the field after it happened, and some players got the license plate number and a description of the vehicle he left in.

"The ref did nothing to provoke this attack," he said, calling it "unfathomable" that it would happen.

Bieniewicz never regained consciousness after being hit, Acho said.

"The force of the blow to the jaw caused a traumatic impact to the brain," he said.

A preliminary examination in the case is set for July 10 in Livonia, authorities said.

Elisha Anderson writes for the Detroit Free Press