A youth football coach in Massachusetts is facing one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon — a football — in connection with an incident involving a referee during a game in Malden, according to police.Malden police Capt. Marc Gatcomb said the assault happened during Sunday's 14-and-under Pop Warner game between the Malden Cyclones and Mattapan Patriots at MacDonald Stadium on Pearl Street.Witnesses told police that during the course of the game, the referee made a call that a Mattapan Patriots coach, identified as 55-year-old Dana Jones, of Roslindale, disagreed with. The play involved helmet-to-helmet contact between two opposing players.The referee, 66-year-old Tom Abruzzese, told NewsCenter 5 that an injury to a Malden player prompted him to penalize a Mattapan player. That caused emotions to escalate quickly."This went from 0 to 60 in a matter of seconds," Abruzzese said. "The person who identified as the head coach was doing the most swearing."As Jones continued to object to the penalty against his player, Abruzzese decided to eject the coach from the game.That is when Jones threw a football, which struck Abruzzese in the chest."They kicked me out of the game. I grabbed the ball and — just mad and out of frustration — just whipped the ball, and it happened to hit one of the referees," Jones said in a phone interview with NewsCenter 5."I felt this impact to my chest. I staggered backwards to the point where the (emergency medical technician) started to treat me," Abruzzese said.Gatcomb said Abruzzese went down to one knee and was shaken up, but not seriously injured.After speaking with witnesses, Malden police officers arrested Jones on the charge of assault and battery with a deadly weapon on a person over the age of 60."I wasn't trying to hurt nobody. I wasn't trying to hit nobody. I was just pissed off. I just threw the ball," Jones said."On behalf of all officials, I want this man prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Abruzzese said.Abruzzese said he has seen tempers flare too quickly during youth football games and argues that it sends a troubling message to the players."They witness this and now what are they going to do the next time somebody in authority does something they don't like?" the referee said.Jones faced a judge in court on Monday.