A scary story coming out of Brazil has more details, as a referee was decapitated on a soccer pitch in the northern part of the country after stabbing a player who would not leave the field after being sent off in an amateur game.
According to the BBC, the incident took place in a small, remote town called Pio XII in the state of Maranhao and details of the crime have slowly started to come out. The report says it took place on June 30 and happened after an angry mob stormed the field in response to the referee, Otavio da Silva, stabbing a player after he refused to leave the field. The player and the referee got into a fight over a call and he then stabbed Josenir dos Santos when he refused to get off the field.
The mob then stormed the field and stoned the referee to death and then severed his head. Police have one man in custody and the report says that Silva stabbed the player, who died on his way to the hospital and many of the player's friends and relatives were the ones who stormed the field. A 27-year-old has been arrested in connection with the incident and it highlights the passion and issues surrounding soccer, the country and the upcoming World Cup.
"We will identify and hold accountable all those involved," police chief Valter Costa was quoted as saying by local media. "One crime will never justify another."
