Referee draws gun during confusion at futsal game with children in Campo Grande; VIDEO
Confusion began after a penalty was awarded; according to the PM, the referee was called a "dirty black man" and reacted after a father threatened to pull out a gun.
By Adriano Fernandes, Gabriel de Matos, g1 MS
Referee Genésio Espírito Santo Bonfim pulled out a gun during a children's futsal game this Saturday (26), in Campo Grande. The match brought together children up to 12 years old.
According to witnesses, the riot began after criticism from the fans against the refereeing. The referee allegedly cursed the parents before pulling out his gun near the children.
The Military Police reported that the referee, a 55-year-old reserve police officer, suffered racial abuse. He allegedly acted after being threatened by an armed man.
Referee Genésio Espírito Santo Bonfim pulled out a gun during a futsal game with boys up to 12 years old, this Saturday (26), in Campo Grande. The confusion occurred at the Colégio ABC Gymnasium, during the ABC Futsal Cup. See the video above.
g1 was unable to contact the referee until the last update of this report. Genésio is not part of the referee panel of the Mato Grosso do Sul Indoor Football Federation (FFSMS).
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The ABC Futsal Cup is organized by GV Eventos. When contacted, the company informed that it would respond in a note. The school was also contacted, but had not yet responded until the last update of this report.
Confusion during the match
The video from the match broadcast shows the commotion that broke out at the entrance to the gym. The referees, dressed in orange, appear involved in the confusion. At one point, it is possible to see Genésio running towards the other side of the court. He then returns holding a gun, but is restrained.
In a report registered at the Center's Community Emergency Care Station (Depac), a representative and a witness from one of the teams that were on the court stated that the confusion began after public criticism of the refereeing, after a penalty was awarded.
The women stated that there were no personal offenses directed at the referee. However, according to the police report, he reacted by swearing at the children's parents, saying "leave, cuckolds", as well as calling them into a fight and making gestures simulating punches.
Armed referee during the match. — Photo: Reproduction.
Afterwards, the referee pulled out his firearm close to the children. One of the parents managed to hold him back, while several people left the scene out of fear that shots would be fired, according to the record.
The Military Police were called by phone 190, but, according to the women's report, they were not heard at the scene by the police team. After that, they went to the police station to register the incident. Videos of the confusion were attached to the bulletin.
Despite the repercussion of the case, g1 found that the confusion was not recorded in the match summary.
Military Police version
The version presented by the PM is different from the report recorded by team representatives at the police station, who stated that there had been no personal offenses against the referee.
In a statement, the Military Police reported that the referee had been called a "dirty black man" during the insults. According to the corporation, he pulled out the gun after one of his parents threatened to take a gun from his waist. See the PM's note in full.
The Mato Grosso do Sul Military Police responded this Saturday morning (26) to an incident involving threats and insults based on race or color during a youth football championship held in the Jardim Monte Virgínia neighborhood:
The military police team was committed via COPOM to intervene in a widespread disturbance resulting from non-compliance with the refereeing during a sports match at a private school.
At the scene, the police maintained contact with the match referee, a 55-year-old retired military police officer, who was a victim in the incident. The professional reported that, after technical decisions in the game, he began to suffer derogatory insults and explicit racial insults ("naughty black"), uttered by parents of athletes present in the stands.
As preliminarily determined, the discussion escalated when individuals entered the lawn in a hostile confrontation posture. One of those involved made gestures indicative of carrying a firearm on his waist, posing an imminent threat to the physical integrity of the referee. Faced with the concrete perception of risk to his life and the violent approach, the victim went to his belongings, removed his duly registered weapon for personal use and began to wield it, containing the advance of the attackers and promoting the dispersion of the invaders. There were no shots fired or overt use of lethal force against third parties.
A coach present confirmed having witnessed the suspicious gesture made by one of the parents towards the referee, corroborating the perception of immediate risk. The suspects of the offenses and invasion had already escaped before the vehicle arrived. The match was broadcast live via an internet video platform (YouTube), audiovisual material that was formally preserved and will be made available to the Civil Police for expert identification of the speeches, offenses and dynamics of the facts.
The victim's weapons were checked and qualified in the bulletin. The case was forwarded to the area police station for judicial police procedures relating to the crimes of racial insult, threats and criminal acts. Likewise, the PMMS General Inspectorate will carry out the appropriate internal procedures regarding the case.
PMMS reaffirms its non-negotiable rejection of any form of racism or discrimination, reinforcing that it acts rigorously in guaranteeing fundamental rights and in the unrestricted investigation of criminal offenses.
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