Brazilian referee decapitated over stabbed player

REFEREE Otavio da Silva had shown Josenir dos Santos a red card in an amateur football game recently for not complying with the card rules, was fatally stabbed in the middle of the pitch officials say.

A fist fight had broken out on the pitch between player and referee as the player had refused to leave the pitch. That was when the knife was pulled out by the referee and the stabbing occurred and Mr Santos died on his way to the hospital, stated the Public Safety Department.

Becoming aware of the news, an angry mob formed and family and friends stormed the pitch to attack the referee.

They then proceeded to stone Otavio da Silva to death and then severed his head.

Police have said that this was in retaliation to the stabbing of the player Josenir dos Santos by the referee. A 27-year old man has been arrested over the killing of the referee.

Investigations continue and police chief Valter Costa was quoted to say that “we will identify and hold accountable all those involved, one crime will never justify another”.

The news has been slow to emerge but the events took place in the town of Pio XII within Maranhao, Brazil.