Off-Duty Officer Assaults Soccer Legend Perdigão

A disturbing incident involving Perdigão, the 2006 world champion with Internacional, has shaken the sports community in Paraná. The former professional footballer was physically assaulted by an off-duty military police officer following a state championship match in Curitiba.

The confrontation occurred on Sunday, January 18, after the whistle blew on a match between São Joseense and Operário-PR at Vila Capanema stadium. What began as a routine post-game atmosphere quickly escalated into a violent encounter that was captured on video and circulated widely on social media, prompting immediate action from law enforcement authorities.

According to Perdigão's account, the violence erupted unexpectedly when he approached a uniformed officer to offer a polite greeting. The 48-year-old former athlete, who also played for Corinthians, Athletico Paranaense, and Vasco, stated that he simply wanted to parabenizar pelo serviço (congratulate the officer on his work) and wish him a good evening.

Instead of a friendly acknowledgment, Perdigão claims the officer reacted aggressively and without warning. In his own words describing the events:

"Naquele momento, me aproximei de um policial apenas para cumprimentá-lo, parabenizar pelo serviço e desejar boa noite. Não sei se houve algum mal-entendido, mas, de forma repentina e sem qualquer justificativa, ele veio em minha direção me agredindo com um cassetete."

The former striker emphasized that he attempted to de-escalate the situation by moving away and did not respond to the physical attacks. He maintained that his behavior was never rude or aggressive during the encounter.

Perdigão took to social media to document the aftermath of the assault, sharing videos and photographs that reveal visible injuries across his body. The visual evidence shows the former player being struck with a baton and shoved by the military police officer.

In his public statement, Perdigão characterized the episode as:

"Situação extremamente constrangedora e dolorosa que vivi neste final de semana. Fui covardemente agredido por um membro despreparado da Polícia Militar. É lamentável que uma atitude isolada como essa acabe manchando a imagem de uma instituição que deveria existir para proteger o cidadão."

The images reveal hematomas (bruises) resulting from the baton strikes, providing visual documentation of the force used against the unarmed former professional athlete.

The Polícia Militar do Paraná (PM-PR) moved quickly to address the situation. The department confirmed that the officer involved has been removed from street patrol and reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

The military police issued a formal statement outlining the following actions:

• Immediate reassignment of the officer to administrative functions
• Transfer to the Corregedoria (Internal Affairs) for psychological evaluation
• Launch of an internal investigation procedure
• Public distancing from the officer's conduct

The department explicitly stated that the reported behavior does not align with the preparation and work of the state's security forces. The officer's name has not been publicly released.

Both the Paraná Football Federation (FPF) and state leadership have rallied behind Perdigão. The FPF, which employs Perdigão as a commentator for their program De Primeira, issued a statement of solidarity.

"Desde o início da atual gestão, Perdigão participa regularmente como comentarista do programa De Primeira, no YouTube da Federação, sendo figura constante nas nossas redes sociais e construindo uma relação de respeito e amizade com todos. Acompanharemos os desdobramentos com a atenção necessária, certos de que futebol e violência não combinam."

Governor Ratinho Junior (PSD) also weighed in on social media, making his position clear regarding police conduct and citizen protection. He wrote that the reported conduct represents neither the preparation nor the values of Paraná's security forces, emphasizing that the police exist to protect and respect citizens.

The case now rests in the hands of the Corregedoria da PMPR, which continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assault. The officer remains in administrative functions while the internal procedure determines appropriate disciplinary measures.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between law enforcement presence at public events and the safety of citizens, including high-profile figures. As the investigation progresses, the sports community and security oversight bodies await final findings that will determine whether this was indeed an isolated incident or indicative of broader issues requiring attention within the state's police force.