A boy cries as his father is attacked by police with batons outside of a stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo / AP
A boy cries as his father is attacked by police with batons outside of a stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo / AP
This is the shocking moment a terrified child screaming "dad" is grabbed by riot police as his father is beaten with a baton and his elderly grandfather is punched outside a football stadium in Portugal.
Prosecutors in the country are investigating a policeman who attacked the men outside Guimaraes stadium in north Portugal, where Benfica had just won the Portuguese league title.
The football fan is struck repeatedly with a police batons. Photo / AP
Police approached Jose Magalhaes, his two sons and his father, as Benfica's celebrations turned ugly when riot police dealt with supporters on the streets of Lisbon on Sunday.
Mr Magalhaes said police had allowed him and his sons, who were wearing Benfica jerseys, to leave the stadium before other fans because the children were being crushed.
Video footage shows the family by a low wall, where one child is sitting and drinking a bottle of water as police held rival fans inside the stadium to avoid clashes in surrounding streets.
An officer questions Mr Magalhaes, then punches his elderly father before using a truncheon to beat Mr Magalhaes, who was on the ground, while his nine-year-old child screamed "dad".
The crying boy is held by a riot officer as his father is attacked by other policemen. Photo / AP
Another policeman, wearing riot gear and carrying a shield, grabs the child to keep him away from the scene.
The district prosecutor said it has opened an investigation into alleged abuse of power. The government department that oversees the police also said it is investigating police actions at the stadium.
On Monday, Mr Magalhaes told reporters outside a Guimaraes court that the policeman asked him why he had taken his children to a football game where he knew there could be trouble.
Mr Magalhaes said he replied that the police should be more concerned about people getting crushed inside the stadium, at which point the policeman assaulted him.
A policeman hold the football fan to the ground. Photo / AP
Mr Magalhaes said the policeman alleged in evidence presented to the court that Mr Magalhaes spat at him - something he denied. He said the police had been kind to him and his family by allowing them to leave the stadium early.
Benfica said it would invite Mr Magalhaes and his sons to watch the final game of the season at its stadium in Lisbon next weekend, and the two children will go on to the field for the presentation of the league trophy.
Meanwhile, the club has criticised some of its fans, who pelted police with bottles and stones during celebrations in Lisbon. Riot police moved in to clear streets after midnight as violence erupted.
Benfica retained the Portuguese title on Sunday with a game to spare by drawing 0-0 with Vitoria Guimaraes away from home, while rivals Porto were held 1-1 at Belenenses.
