Attack ref says he'd punch again

Brazilian referee Luiz Carlos Silva said today he had no regrets after punching a fan who ran on to the pitch to attack him in Belo Horizonte on Sunday.

Television pictures showed Silva landed several punches at the shirtless supporter during injury time in a local derby between America and Atletico Mineiro.

Silva said: "Everything I did, I did conscientiously and I would do it again. I'm a self-employed worker and if that guy had landed a punch, I could have been off work when I've got five children to raise.

"If I had run away, it would have looked bad. I was not prepared to suffer this embarrassment." The incident sparked a brawl as Atletico Mineiro players tried to protect the supporter from the police. America won 1-0 in a game which saw three red cards.