A recreation league soccer player told 10News a fan stormed the field and attacked him during a game, breaking his jaw.
The incident took place last Thursday evening on a soccer field in La Jolla, and about 40 minutes into the adult rec league game, 33-year-old Mike Kent said he was attacked.
Kent was dribbling the ball when he was fouled in the leg. The ball then rolled away.
When a teammate went to get the ball, an opposing player tripped him up, leading to what Kent called a typical soccer scuffle.
"There was some yelling and a little bit of pushing and pulling, but no violence," said Kent.
In the middle of the scuffle, Kent said a man in his 30s ran onto the field from the sidelines.
"He comes right at me and swings. I duck and avoid him, and I'm backpedaling. He chases after me, swings again and connects with my jaw," Kent told 10News.
Kent's lower jaw was split in half.
"They put a metal plate right here on the lip of my law … and installed screws to hold it in place," said Kent.
As for the man who landed the punch, a bewildered Kent said he did ask him moments after the punch what he was doing.
"He didn't answer me; he just stared," said Kent.
The man left the area by the time police arrived.
Kent said a detective told him they just tracked down the man and will question him.
"This whole thing is so absurd. It makes no sense and it just doesn't belong in sports," said Kent.
10News reached out to investigators, but haven't heard back.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help with Kent's medical bills.
