The Minas Gerais referees commission on Thursday said it stands behind referee Gabriel Murta, who was captured on video pulling out a handgun during a dispute with players, according to an ESPN Brazil report.
The commission said Murta, who has been on the police force for the past four years and has been a referee for the past 10, will not be punished.
Murta, meanwhile, told ESPN Brazil that he acted in self-defense after he was reportedly kicked and slapped during an amateur game last weekend outside of Belo Horizonte, while a manager ran on the pitch to demand a red card.
"I got slapped in the face, kicked, pushed. I felt very bad and left the locker room so I wouldn't get crowded by people trying to punch me," said the 27-year-old. "I had a gun, I didn't aim it, didn't threaten anybody. I just ran towards the guy [who allegedly assaulted him] to arrest him. At that moment, I wasn't a referee, I was a cop."
Murta said this was the first time he brought a gun to a game.
According to the referee commission report, this was the fourth time that Murta has been assaulted in the league.