There were unbelievably horrific scenes at an amateur soccer match in Maranhao, Brazil, on June 30th, when a referee was lynched, and his head put on a stake, after he killed a player during an argument.

Eurosport are reporting that the 20-year-old referee, Otavio Jordao da Silva fatally stabbed 30-year-old Josenir dos Santos Abreu, during an altercation on the soccer pitch.

Santos Abreu was believed to have remonstrated with da Silva over a refereeing decision. Santos Abreu then struck the referee before da Silva fatally stabbed the player.

Santos Arbeau was taken to hospital but died from his injuries.

Angered by the incident, spectators took a horrific revenge on referee da Silva. According to Eurosport:

‘..the referee was tied up, beaten, stoned and quartered. They then put his head on a stake and planted it in the middle of the pitch.

One man, Luiz Moraes de Souza, 27, has been arrested over the incident. He has admitted to assaulting the referee but denied killing the man. Police are searching for two more suspects.

They are currently viewing video footage of the incident filmed by a witness with a mobile phone.

In a statement, the regional delegate of Santa Ines, Valter Costa, who is looking after the case, said: “One crime never justifies another crime. Actions likes this do not collaborate with the legality of state law.”

The original news report (plus photographs of the scene and victims) published in the Brazilian press, can be found here.
 
Via Eurosport, with thanks to Scheme Comix