Linesman Saw Death Up Close During A Pitch Brawl

Story ByAlex CopeSub EditorJoseph GolderAgencyGolder’s News And Sport 

Video Credit: Golders/@cornetacaipira

A linesman who was involved in a brawl in which officials were filmed being attacked and kicked during a Brazilian football match has said he “saw death up close” during the incident.

Rafael Bastos Cardoso, 30, was one of the assistant referees during the Campeonato Paraense under-20’s match between Paysandu and Carajas held at the Estadio da Curuzu stadium in the northern Brazilian city of Belem when a brawl broke out.

The incident occurred when the refereeing team awarded Carajas a penalty in the 92nd minute of the match with the score at 0-0. The home team were infuriated with the decision and began attacking the referees.

Picture Credit: Golders/@cornetacaipira

In the video, a Paysandu player, who has not been named in reports, can be seen running after the other assistant referee Milton Rogerio Gama de Souza.

The player catches up with the assistant and kicks him to the ground. All three referees were reportedly attacked during the incident. it is unclear if they suffered serious injuries.

Souza’s colleague Bastos Cardoso has now written online about the incident, saying: “What happened on Sunday was unequalled cowardice, never seen before.

“Whoever was there was, unfortunately, witness to scenes of savagery of more than 15 people against one who tried to defend himself in any way but didn’t manage to do so, who was thrown to the ground and attack with punches, stamps and kicks (including to the face) by ‘animals’ who were there.”

He added: “We need to stop this! I saw death up close and I will fight until the end for justice to be done.”

At half-time two players and other members of Paysandu’s technical staff had been shown red cards for complaining to the referees.

Lawyer Marco Antonio Pina, who is working in Cardoso’s defence, said that his client “cannot even go to his office” and is thinking “of leaving his profession” after the incident.

The Tribunal of Sports Justice of Para have reportedly been alerted to the case after an official complaint was sent, according to the President of the Referees’ Union, Dewson Fernando de Freita who added they plan to file a criminal complaint.

It is unclear if the police are investigating the incident.

Paysandu wrote in a statement that they “regretted the incident” but claimed “no act of cowardice had been committed by our athletes”.

The match finished 1-0 to Carajas.

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