Referee beheaded by fans for killing player in Brazil

A referee in Maranhao, Brazil, last Sunday is reported to have been decapitated after stabbing one of the players.

The Public Safety Department of the state of Maranhao, in Brazil, said in a statement that the horrific incident began when referee Otavio da Silva, 20, sent off 30-year-old Josenir Abreu.

Santos Abreu is believed to have argued and then struck the referee after being unhappy with a decision. It is believed the referee was carrying a knife throughout the match and fatally stabbed the player in retaliation.

Santos Abreu was rushed to hospital but died from injuries on the way.

Enraged spectators invaded a football field, stoned the referee to death and quartered his body after he stabbed a player to death.

Police have arrested one suspect after last weekend’s incident and are looking for two others.

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.’