A Brazilian referee punched a fan who attacked him on the field during a soccer match in the Minas Gerais state championship on Sunday.
Referee Luiz Carlos Silva fought back after the fan ran onto the field and started punching and kicking him two minutes from the end of a heated game between rivals America and Atletico Mineiro at Mineirao stadium.
Silva defended himself at first, then ran after the Atletico fan and punched him repeatedly in the face until players from both sides intervened to stop the fight.
”I had to do something, he was much bigger than me,” Silva said after the incident. ”He would beat me up badly if I just stayed there.”
Police rushed to the field to arrest the fan and roughly dragged him from the ground. Atletico goalkeeper Danrlei tried to protect the fan from the police, and also ended up being punched.
The fan, who was shirtless and without shoes, later told local media that he was angry with the referee’s officiating during the match, which America won 1-0 behind a 61st-minute goal by striker Washington.
The fan entered the field after veteran striker Euller became the second Atletico player to be sent off by Silva. America also had a player ejected. – Sapa-AP