A Brazilian footballer, William Ribeiro, has been arrested after an attack on a referee saw him knocked unconscious and rushed to hospital.
The Sao Paulo RS star kicked official Rodrigo Crivellaro during their league match against Guarani on Monday night, October 4.
His side had just fallen 1-0 behind but it is unclear why he suddenly launched the series of blows at the helpless ref, before the referee then took another horrible kick at his head.
Ribeiro was immediately restrained by opponents as others called the medical team on.
Crivellaro was knocked out and required treatment on the pitch. An ambulance later drove on to take him to hospital in Venancio Aires, near Porto Alegre in southern Brazil.
By 11pm local time, reports in Brazil say he was awake again but still being looked after by doctors.
Ribeiro, meanwhile, was detained inside the stadium by military police before being driven to the police station.
