Photo: Screenshot
Photo: Screenshot
All hell broke loose in a Brazilian second-division football match this week, when a professional player violently attacked a referee on the pitch. The game was abandoned in the 60th minute following the brutal assault, and the official was rushed to hospital on Tuesday.
‘Attempted murder’ charge filed against William Ribeiro
Midfielder William Ribeiro sent referee Rodrigo Crivellaro tumbling to the ground with a punch – and then knocked him unconscious with a vicious kick to the back of the neck during the match on Monday night. The assault, just before the hour mark of the match between Sao Paulo-RS and Guarani, was captured by television cameras.
Crivellaro was quickly given medical assistance on the field and then taken to hospital – although he was discharged on Tuesday morning “in good health,” a source at the Sao Sebastiao Martir hospital in the city of Venancio Aires told AFP – which comes as a mighty relief, given the severity of this attack…
Watch: Brazilian footballer leaves referee unconcious
???? Horrific scenes in Brazil as footballer William Ribeiro is arrested for attempted murder after kicking a referee in the head for a decision he didn't agree with.pic.twitter.com/A5YopyKf0z
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) October 6, 2021
Footballer assault: Game to resume after ‘attempted murder’
Sao Paulo-RS said they had sacked Ribeiro and would be taking legal action against him. The match was suspended in the 59th minute with Guarani leading 1-0, and is due to resume from that point on Tuesday night.
The local football federation said it would look into punishing Ribeiro, while the regional refereeing union demanded the player be banned from football. SP-RS confirmed, via a statement, that the final half-hour of the game will be played at 15:30 local time today. Quite simply, there is no excuse for such barbaric behaviour.
Bom dia!
— Sport Club São Paulo (@SCSaoPauloRS) October 5, 2021
Por aqui, o estagiário ainda não pregou o olho depois de toda a situação lamentável que aconteceu na noite de ontem.
A partida, que foi paralisada após a agressão, terá continuidade hoje a partir de 15:30.
