Years ago there was a documentary on TV about English 1974 World Cup Final referee Jack Taylor - it was called "Don't Shoot The Ref".

Now, 41 years on, the programme called could be 'Don't Shoot The Players"...

Brazilian lower league official Gabriel Murta reacted to being slapped and kicked by Amantes de Bola, so raced to the dressing rooms and returned brandishing a gun.

This got the players' attention, some of whom fled the pitch in terror, as the man in black contemplated terminating the match in Brumadinho near Belo Horizonte with extreme prejudice.

Murta now faces disciplinary action and is due to undergo a psychological assessment later today and could face suspension or a permanent ban.

Referees’ association boss Giuliano Bozzano said the official felt threatened and went to look for the weapon to defend himself.

Bozzano said: "The Minais Gerais Football Federation has already summonsed the referee and a psychologist to a meeting and I’m going to talk with him today.

"On the basis of that conversation and his account of events and the results of the psychological assessment I’ll decide what if any measures to take.

"What’s happened is obviously not a common occurrence and I don’t want to rush into anything.

"At the moment it happened he’s opted for getting his gun because in his view it was a question of controlling a situation."