Once again, South Americans who turned up at a game expecting to see some football were bitterly disappointed, as a Brazilian contest between Botafogo and Nautico turned into an exercise in riot policing.
After putting in a perfectly legitimate challenge on a player who proceeded to perform a spasmodic dive, Botafogo defender Andre Luis was sent off. Obviously a little miffed, he showed his dissatisfaction to the home fans, and soon after the cops layed the smackdown on players and fans:
A player was arrested after being sent off in a Brazilian championship match and riot police used pepper spray and truncheons
South Americans are the undisputed world leaders in football violence (evidence here and here), and subsequently they are also pioneers in instilling respect among players. The latest solution for controlling and punishing aggressive players is to stick them in a special cage next to the pitch.
Expect to see one installed at every Premier League ground next season (and expect to see Joey Barton end up in one every week).
When Martin Atkinson refused to call a penalty against Portsmouth on Saturday, most Manchester United fans showed some slight confusion before continuing to mentally plan their long drive back to the home counties.
Colombian fans show a little more passion - when America de Cali were denied a penalty against fierce rivals Deportivo de Cali, the players engaged in a spot of fisticuffs and the fans soon followed suit. Before they knew it, local authorities had 80 wounded and 16 stab victims on their hands.
The bar has been raised, it’s your turn to respond, Millwall.
