26.06.2025 11:00
In an amateur football match held in Brazil, referee Ederson Carlos da Silva was detained by police officers who entered the field during the game. Police officials stated that da Silva had been wanted as part of a long-running drug trafficking investigation and that he was the logistics coordinator for a major drug network operating in the area.
An extraordinary event in Brazil shocked the football world. A referee officiating an amateur football match was detained by police who entered the field while the match was ongoing.
The incident occurred during an amateur match in the city of Guarujá, located in the state of São Paulo. The 38-year-old referee Ederson Carlos da Silva was suddenly thrown to the ground and handcuffed by police who entered the field just as he was about to show a yellow card to a player.
The players, fans, and officials at the match watched the event in great shock.
According to police, da Silva was wanted as part of a long-running drug trafficking investigation. Authorities stated that he was the logistics manager for a major drug network operating in the area.
In November 2024, 450 kilograms of cocaine were seized from a truck that was stopped in São Paulo. Statements from those detained after this incident revealed that da Silva organized the locations where the drugs were stored and managed their distribution.
Eduardo Lima, the Director of the Drug Enforcement Unit, provided the following information:
"We had no knowledge that da Silva was a referee. According to our records, he was working as a foreman at a company. He was very active on social media, which helped us track him down and locate him."
Police tracking da Silva identified him during the match he was officiating. As the match continued, police in bulletproof vests entered the field and detained da Silva without any resistance.
Footage of the moments quickly spread on social media. The videos show the referee first showing a yellow card and then being thrown to the ground and handcuffed by the police who approached from behind.
Police officials stated that the drug network to which da Silva belonged has not yet been fully dismantled. It was announced that six more individuals are still being sought.
The local press, noting that such on-field detentions are rare, reported that the incident was interpreted as "the moment the referee's final whistle sounded for his own freedom."
Authorities announced that details of the investigation would be shared with the public soon.