Photographer knocked unconscious by ball strike in Brazilian football match

During a Brazilian Serie D quarterfinal match between Sociedade Esportiva do Gama and São José-RS, defender Thiago Piedra struck a ball with significant force after it had already crossed the goal line. The ball struck photographer Sibele Santos directly in the head, causing her to lose consciousness.

Players from both teams immediately rushed to assist the photographer as medical teams were called to the scene. Santos regained consciousness after approximately two minutes at the stadium and was subsequently taken for further medical attention. Following the incident, Santos expressed that she believed the action was intentional, describing it as ‘pura maldad’ (pure evil), and reported experiencing pain in her head and hand.

The match concluded with a 4-0 victory for Gama, securing their advancement to the semifinals and promotion to Serie C.