Brazil football referee skips red card, goes straight for gun

After a Brazilian football referee was slapped and kicked by a player during a local match, he didn’t bother with a red card. He went straight for his pistol.

After a Brazilian football referee was slapped and kicked by a player during a local match, he didn’t bother with a red card. He went straight for his pistol.

Brazilian referee Gabriel Murta, left, is seen brandishing his gun as a fellow linesman tries to restrain him. (Photo: YouTube screen grab)

Things started to go wrong during the weekend amateur league game in southeastern Brazil when the substitutes and coach of the Amantes da Bola team poured onto the pitch in response to what they considered a dangerous play by rival Brumahdinho.

The referee, a policeman by day identified by the Globo news site as Gabriel Murta, was kicked and slapped during the melee. So instead of reaching into his shirt for the card, he went back to the changing room for his firearm.

Video footage emerged on Tuesday of the referee, clad in yellow and black, brandishing a handgun at players before being led away by other match officials.

No arrests were made, but according to Globo the referee will be given a psychological evaluation and could face disciplinary measures.