Fans were stunned when a physiotherapist was sent off during a match in Norway’s top league.

Referees across Europe have rightly become tougher on dissenting opinions in recent years.

At a time when technology and VAR are taking over decision-making power from officials on the pitch, it is important that a certain level of respect is maintained between them and the players.

That said, one referee in Norway clearly went a bit too far.

Fans were stunned when the referee sent a physiotherapist off the pitch during Saturday’s match between Sarpsborg in the Norwegian top division and Brann.

With the score still at 0-0 and about five minutes to go, a Sarpsborg player suffered a cramp.

The team’s physiotherapist, Joao Ferreira, entered the field to help the player, but he was immediately given a yellow card by the referee for entering the field without permission.

Ferreira was caught on TV cameras protesting and pointing at the referee, for which he was shown a second yellow card and a red card.

The physiotherapist couldn’t believe his eyes and laughed at the referee while he initially stayed on the field.

Several of Brann’s players then stopped him when he tried to approach the referee, after which Sarpsborg’s stars got involved to support their physiotherapist.

Ferreira returned to the sideline shaking his head in disbelief and now risks a suspension.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” one fan wrote on X in response to the red card.

Another commented: “Ref has a clown diploma.”

After play finally resumed, Sarpsborg took the lead in the 91st minute when Henrik Wendel Meister scored.

But Brann still managed to score a point in the fourth minute of injury time, thanks to a goal from substitute Aune Heggebo.

While dramatic endings to matches are not uncommon, not many fans will have ever seen a physiotherapist receive a red card before.