If you’ve enjoyed the strange stories coming out of the world of Brazilian soccer in recent months, get ready for another one. On Saturday, a police dog bit a player on the leg during a second-round game in the Rio Grande do Sul state championship, according to the Associated Press.
In the first half of the contest between Caxias and Novo Hamburgo, Paulinho Macaiba appeared to open the scoring for Novo Hamburgo. But the referee, Jean Pierre de Lima, disallowed the goal. After consulting with his assistant, de Lima allowed the goal to stand. Predictably, mayhem ensued.
Caxias players and coaches took to the field in protest. There was a large crowd of people on the field, including a military policeman and his police dog — a German Shepard named Nitro.
Nitro jumped up and bit Caxias striker Vanderlei on the back of the leg. The player needed treatment, and the game stopped for 10 minutes.
After he passed what may have been a sideline rabies test, Vanderlei got back to his feet and the game resumed. The disputed goal stood as the winner, as Novo Hamburgo won 1-0.
