A football match in Colombia’s lower leagues turned violent on Wednesday after an ugly incident involving a player and the referee.
The incident happened when Javier Bolívar, who plays as a midfielder for Real Alianza Cataquera, received a red card from referee Vanessa Ceballos. The referee showed him the card because of an offense he committed during the game, which meant he had to leave the field immediately.
However, instead of leaving quietly, Bolívar lost his temper. In front of players, officials, and fans, he suddenly turned around and slapped the female referee across the face. The shocking act was caught on video and quickly spread online after being posted by La Jornada, a major newspaper based in Mexico City.
The attack caused instant outrage. Players and spectators reacted in disbelief and anger at Bolívar’s actions. Referee Vanessa Ceballos, clearly upset and furious, tried to defend herself and even attempted to kick the player in response. But before the situation could get worse, other referees and players rushed in to separate them and stop the fight.
The incident has raised serious concerns about violence and respect in football, especially towards referees.
