I was shocked to read this in the Guardian Newspaper last night:
Police in northern Brazil say one man has been arrested after a referee who fatally stabbed a player during a match was decapitated by spectators who stormed the field.
Local reports said the incident, which took place on 30 June in the remote Brazilian town of Pio XII, escalated when the player, 30-year-old Josenir dos Santos, became involved in an argument with the referee, Octavio da Silva.
As the confrontation became physical and Dos Santos refused to leave the field, Da Silva allegedly produced a knife and stabbed the player, who died while being taken to hospital.
Referee Otavio da Silva:
Reports said that outraged spectators responded by running on to the field and stoning Da Silva, before severing his head and sticking it on a stake in the middle of the field.
Police at the regional headquarters of Santa Ines said a 27-year-old man was arrested on 2 July, with the investigation continuing.
Police spokesman Valter Costa was quoted as saying: "We will identify and hold accountable all those involved in this incident. One crime will never justify another. Actions like this do not correspond with state law."
The player who was stabbed died on the way to the hospital, while the mutilated remains of the referee were left on the pitch for the authorities to clean up. Once they did, all that was left was a blood-stained patch of grass and the piece of wood (pictured below) upon which the referee's head was impaled.
With the 2014 Football (Soccer to those in the US) World Cup being held in Brazil and Rio De Janeiro hosting the Olympics in 2016 lets hope that the authorities get this all in check
Police in northern Brazil say one man has been arrested after a referee who fatally stabbed a player during a match was decapitated by spectators who stormed the field.
Local reports said the incident, which took place on 30 June in the remote Brazilian town of Pio XII, escalated when the player, 30-year-old Josenir dos Santos, became involved in an argument with the referee, Octavio da Silva.
As the confrontation became physical and Dos Santos refused to leave the field, Da Silva allegedly produced a knife and stabbed the player, who died while being taken to hospital.
Referee Otavio da Silva:
Reports said that outraged spectators responded by running on to the field and stoning Da Silva, before severing his head and sticking it on a stake in the middle of the field.
Police at the regional headquarters of Santa Ines said a 27-year-old man was arrested on 2 July, with the investigation continuing.
Police spokesman Valter Costa was quoted as saying: "We will identify and hold accountable all those involved in this incident. One crime will never justify another. Actions like this do not correspond with state law."
The player who was stabbed died on the way to the hospital, while the mutilated remains of the referee were left on the pitch for the authorities to clean up. Once they did, all that was left was a blood-stained patch of grass and the piece of wood (pictured below) upon which the referee's head was impaled.
With the 2014 Football (Soccer to those in the US) World Cup being held in Brazil and Rio De Janeiro hosting the Olympics in 2016 lets hope that the authorities get this all in check 
