By Ayeotan Shola
A Brazilian referee is facing disciplinary action for pulling a gun on the field during a red card dispute. Gabriel Murta was officiating an amateur game between Brumadinho and Amantes da Bola when tempers flared on the field following a red card.
The referee was reportedly kicked and punched by a player from Amantes da Bola, which led to him brandishing the weapon.
Murta is a police officer by profession according to The Guardian, which explains why he owns a handgun, but not why he had it on the field. A representative from the referee’s association in Brazil stated that Muta felt threatened, but an inquiry is underway.
Amateur soccer in Brazil is no stranger to violence.
A similar occurrence happened in 2013 whe a referee was killed and beheaded by fans as retaliation after an altercation with a player led to the referee stabbing the player to death.
