Football match ends in referee being decapitated

Brazil's World Cup preparations continue to be crashed by waves of violence, with an amateur football match ending in horror – when a referee was decapitated after stabbing a player to death.

The incident occurred on June 30th (NZT) in the stadium Pius XII, in a small county of São Luís, Maranhão.

According to Correio24horas, it started when referee Octavio da Silva Catanhede Jordan (left) red-carded Josenir dos Santos Abreu.

Josenir refused to leave the field and proceeded to verbally abuse and assault Octavio.

The 20-year-old referee retaliated by stabbing the 31-year-old player multiple times with a ‘machete–like’ knife, that he was carrying on his person during the match.

Whilst Josenir was taken to hospital in critical condition, friends and relatives invaded the field – tying up the referee and torturing him.

Upon hearing the news that Josenir had died on arrival at a local hospital, Octavio was stoned to death on the field.

His body was then quartered, decapitated and his head was pierced on top of a stake.

The lynching was captured on cellphones by onlookers, making its way to social networks, where the police were able to identify one of the suspects - Luis Sousa Moraes.

He was arrested on July 3rd (NZT) and two other suspects were identified and questioned.

In an official statement by Valter Costa, police chief of Santa Ines in Maranhão – he confirmed that the investigation was ongoing.

“Reports of witnesses have indicated some people that were in place at the time of the fact. We will identify and hold accountable all those involved. A crime will never justify another. Actions like this do not collaborate with the legality of a state law.”