A SOCCER referee in Brazil was beheaded by angry fans after he stabbed a player to death.

Police in northern Brazil say one man has been arrested after the incident in a local league match in the town of Pio XII.



Local reports said the referee, Octavio da Silva, stabbed Josenir dos Santos after the player became involved in a physical confrontation with sa Silva and then refused to leave the field.



Dos Santos died while being taken to hospital.



Outraged spectators reportedly stormed the field and stoned the referee before decapitating him and putting his head on a stake in the middle of the ground.



A 27-year-old man was arrested on July 2, while the investigation is continuing.



Almost 50,000 people were murdered in Brazil in 2010 and the country is under pressure to show it is a safe place to visit ahead of next year's World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.