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Amorous Brazilian booked for kissing referee

April 23, 2007

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 23 (Reuters) - A Brazilian defender was booked for kissing the referee during a match at the weekend.

Television pictures on Monday showed Cabofriense defender Cleberson giving referee Ubiraci Damasio a peck on the cheek after having a foul awarded against him during a 3-1 defeat by Botafogo at the Maracana.

The two were initially involved in a friendly exchange but the referee's mood quickly changed as he pulled out a yellow card and could be seen to say: 'You can't kiss me.'

'I didn't know it was against the rules,' said Cleberson afterwards.