Slick grass at Wembley Stadium has beeen just as much a risk for the officials as it is for the players.
During the first quarter of the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
game in London, umpire Larry Smith slipped, stumbled backward and fell on the wet playing surface. Smith managed to get back on his feet, but after taking a couple of steps, he fell back down with an apparent leg injury and in clear pain.The official got medical attention from both teams' training staffs while down on the field before he was eventually carted off. The remaining officiating crew shifted to a six-man setup, down from the original seven officials, meaning Smith's responsibilities as umpire were re-allocated elsewhere.
Smith began his NFL officiating career last year. His appearance in the Week 6 London game was the 22nd of his NFL career after spending time as an official for the Big Ten in college football.
Smith's full-time job is as a school principal in Kansas City, Kansas.
The Texans held 17-14 lead over the Jaguars at halftime in London.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Official carted off with leg injury after falling on slippery London field
