The detention negotiations began at lunchtime. Norwegian police want the man to be detained for four weeks. The man's defender pleaded for him to be released.
The incident occurred during the ongoing youth tournament Norway Cup, one of the world's largest, where the man was present to follow his brother's team. According to the man, a situation arose where an assistant referee pushed his brother, whereupon the man attacked the referee.
"The defendant admits to having hit the linesman, but my assessment is that the linesman's behavior before the attack was highly reprehensible", comments the man's defender.
The referee, a man in his 50s, was driven to the hospital for his injuries where he remained for care.
The Spanish team has been allowed to continue playing in the tournament but two Norwegian teams have refused to meet them.
