Watch: Referee snaps and punches teen player in youth match
Youth football is meant to be a breeding ground for talent, sportsmanship, and discipline. But on June 8, 2025, a youth match in São Paulo took a dark and unexpected turn that left players, parents, and fans in shock and the global football community in disbelief.
What Happened?
The incident occurred during a Sub-17 Interclubes tournament match between São Paulo FC’s social club team and EC Banespa, held at a sports facility on Avenida Santo Amaro, in São Paulo’s southern zone.
The match was already intense, with both sides pushing for dominance. In the final moments of the game, São Paulo fc social club appeared to score a dramatic equalizing goal.
But before the celebrations could begin, the assistant referee often referred to as the “bandeirinha” in Brazil raised his flag, ruling the goal offside and that single decision ignited a storm.
The Moment It All Went Wrong
Upset with the disallowed goal, players from São Paulo’s youth team aggressively approached the assistant referee. In video footage that quickly went viral across social media, one of the young players is seen confronting the official, pressing his forehead into the referee’s.
Watch the video:
In an unprovoked act of violence, the assistant referee retaliated by punching the teenage player in the face.
The blow caused immediate outrage, what should’ve ended with a yellow or red card turned into a full-scale on-field brawl involving players and even the match officials. Kicks, shoves, and chaos unfolded in seconds.
Immediate Consequences
The tournament’s organizing body, The Paulista Interclubes de Futebol Menor Association took immediate disciplinary action.
According to UOL, the assistant referee, main referee, and the entire São Paulo social youth team were expelled from the tournament.
The assistant referee, who has not been publicly named, was employed by SFM Eventos Esportivos, a company that provides officiating services for amateur matches.
SFM issued a public statement condemning the act, confirming the official had been suspended indefinitely and would cooperate with all investigations.
In addition, a police report was filed at the 11th Police District in Santo Amaro, where the parents of the assaulted minor reported the incident as physical aggression.
Reactions and Outrage
Social media erupted with disbelief and anger. Many fans criticized not only the assistant referee’s behavior but also the broader environment of youth sports, where unchecked emotions and lack of control can lead to tragic incidents like this.
The story gained massive reactions on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, especially after Brazilian sports media brand Lance reposted the footage with commentary. The video has since amassed millions of views, sparking international debate.
What São Paulo football team said
The São Paulo team said that the athletes of the social club have no connection with the structure of the main team, nor with the base divisions of the club.
The club also repudiated the violence of teenagers who wear the club’s shirt.
“Although it is a team formed by members and not linked to the club’s base categories, the athletes wore the official uniform of São Paulo, which naturally generates an association of the institution’s image with the episode. Given this, we consider inadmissible acts of violence of any kind,” said the note.
“The repudiation note published by the Interclub Association is an important step.
The São Paulo Football Club makes itself available to collaborate with any diligence aimed at the complete elucidation of the facts and reiterates its confidence that the Interclubes Association will adopt the appropriate measures with rigor and transparency, safeguarding the principles that should guide the training sport,” he said.
What This Incident Means for Youth Football
This disturbing episode shines a spotlight on the need for stricter regulations, better referee training, and emotional intelligence development not just for players, but also for those officiating youth sports.
While passion and competitiveness are essential elements of football, violence has no place in the game especially not when adults are expected to set examples for minors.
