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Bugres FC’s Robinson was sent off after kicking Vandre Zanelatto in the head (Picture: YouTube/@JogoDecisivo)
An amateur futsal match in Brazil descended into chaos at the weekend as a player kicked an unsuspecting rival in the head while he was lying defenceless on the ground.
Amigos da Pelada had appeared on course for a routine victory in their quarter-final with Bugres FC after racing to an imperious 7-2 lead during Saturday’s one-sided knockout contest.
But with two minutes remaining of the second half, there were deeply unsavoury scenes as Amigos da Pelada’s Vandre Zanelatto was thrown to the ground after attempting to shield the ball from his opponent, Robinson, wearing – and soon seeing – red.
No doubt frustrated by the scoreline, Robinson allowed emotions to get the better of him and, in a moment of pure madness, swung his right boot at Vandre having been pulled up by the referee.
The shocking act of violence appeared to leave both sets of players in a state of disbelief. Meanwhile, Vandre remained on the floor, writhing around in agony and holding his face.
After being sent off and shepherded away from the scene by a quick-thinking official at Treviso’s Clovis Bernardini gymnasium, Robinson passed in front of the stands, sparking a separate brawl to break out between fans in attendance.
Footage from the bad-tempered contest clearly shows punches being thrown in the fracas, before play was eventually allowed to continue.
‘We deeply regret the incident involving our athlete Vandre Zanelatto and we call for drastic punishment for those involved,’ Amigos da Pelada wrote in a statement on social media after the match.
‘No sport has a place for this type of behaviour.’
A separate statement from the authorities in Treviso, situated in the south of Brazil, condemned Robinson’s conduct and said the act of violence was ‘inconsistent with the values cultivated in our city’.
‘The Municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Municipality of Treviso hereby expresses its most vehement repudiation of the act of violence that occurred during the 2025 Municipal Futsal Championship match,’ it read.
An official tried to calm the situation as he steered Robinson away from the scene (Picture: YouTube/@JogoDecisivo)
‘Sport must be a space for integration, respect and celebration of community life, and can never be tarnished by attitudes that threaten the physical and moral integrity of participants.
‘The aggression recorded on the court hurts not only the direct victim, but also everyone who believes in sports as a tool for social inclusion, leisure, and health promotion.
‘This type of behaviour is inconsistent with the values cultivated in our city, which constantly seeks to strengthen the spirit of community and good coexistence between athletes and fans.’
The statement continued: ‘We reaffirm that the Municipal Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism firmly condemns any form of violence, whether inside or outside sports venues.
A brawl broke out in the stands following Robinson’s sending off (Picture: YouTube/@JogoDecisivo)
‘We strive to ensure that our competitions are safe and respectful environments, where discipline, ethics, and the appreciation of individual and collective talent prevail.
‘The municipal government is committed to encouraging healthy sports and setting positive examples for our children, youth, and the entire community.
‘Finally, we express our solidarity with the injured athlete, as well as with his family, colleagues, and fans who were offended by the incident. We will work to prevent further incidents and ensure that municipal futsal continues to be a source of pride for Treviso.’
It has since been confirmed that a meeting involving the disciplinary committee, responsible for officiating the championship in question, will be held.
A date and time for the meeting will be announced in due course.
