Brazil police probed over pepper-spraying of players
RIO DE JANEIRO - Police in the northern Brazilian state of Rondonia are being investigated for excessive use of force in dealing with two football players who refused to leave the pitch after being sent off.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jUgDjVbyFPhmjhjJtpDGtE.jpg)
"The military police of the state of Rondonia has already initiated an internal investigation into possible irregularities committed in that incident," police spokesman Lenilson Guedes told Reuters on Friday.
"We have already asked for local TV footage so we can analyse the images."
During the second half of a Rondoniense (state) championship match at the Aluizio Ferreira stadium in Porto Velho last weekend, officers resorted to pepper spray to try to get the dismissed players off the pitch, sparking a free-for-all.
The dismissals occurred in the 64th minute when Genus, who played in last year's Brazilian championship fourth-tier Serie D, were losing 3-0 to Moto Esporte Clube in one of the country's minor state championships.
"The players refused to go off (and) insulted the referee so he called the police who were on duty in the stadium to guarantee security (for the match officials)," Guedes said.
"Players are believed to have sworn at the police officers and one sprayed them."
Guedes explained the procedure the officers should have followed but appear to have been ignored.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
In such incidents "the first approach must be oral, 'citizen, kindly leave the place', then they can be escorted out by the arm, the third stage would be to use a truncheon and the fourth the spray.
"This officer passed directly to the spray," said Guedes.
The Rondonia Football Federation said on its website that it had ruled the remaining minutes of the match would not be played and the result would stand.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack