And...THIS is why soccer (football) is effing crazy

[scadugenga]

A 20 year old ref argues with, and then ejects a 31 year old player in a Brazillian game.

They get into a fight.

The ref...the REF pulls a small knife and fatally stabs the player. (The fatality has not yet been confirmed, iirc.)

Now, if that wasn't insane enough...

The family and friends of the player STORM. THE. FIELD. Restrain the ref.

Then proceed to Stone. Him. To. Death.

Then...THEN...they quarter the body (wtf, is this the Middle Ages?!?) and plant the Ref's HEAD on a frikkin STAKE in the middle of the field.

You don't see that kinda crazy in American football or baseball, kids.

He'll, not even boxing or MMA.

[Wolfshade]

Worryingly it is not the only example of violence towards referres, nor the only death.

Perhaps one thing to bear in mind is the level of violence that we normally see in Brazil, for many people being a soccer star is the only way out of abject poverty and playing in one of the European leagues with an obscene salary.

Someone said to me 'To you football is a matter of life or death!' and I said 'Listen, it's more important than that'.

I wonder how much of this violence is representative of a rejection of traditional authority figures in society?

We had a number of tennis players arguing with the umpire during Wimbeldon.

Maybe if we made sport less important people wouldn't get so het up about it and just remember it is a game, played for enjoyment.

[Deadlift]

Don't worry Scad, Sunday morning kick about and pub leagues are still safe enough ......most of the time.
Sounds like blood bowl.

[Psychosplodge]

You've got your brackets back to front.

[eldargal]

I understand enjoying playing sport, watching people play a sport you play and watching people you know playing sport. I don't understand the fascination with people who never play sport acting like it is some kind of religious experience to watch a bunch of overpaid young idiots kick a ball around or whatever. I get the entertainment value, but worshiping them and in extreme cases rioting or killing people is just silly.

[Wolfshade]

What do you mean, I am sure Barry Austin is off down the local sunday league each week:



Barry Austin at 50st, reputedly the heaviest man in the UK (formerly) and devout Bluenose

[Kirsten]

I understand enjoying playing sport, watching people play a sport you play and watching people you know playing sport. I don't understand the fascination with people who never play sport acting like it is some kind of religious experience to watch a bunch of overpaid young idiots kick a ball around or whatever. I get the entertainment value, but worshiping them and in extreme cases rioting or killing people is just silly.

yup, I enjoy watching football, which often surprises my friends. Loved the federations cup, aside from the final, and looking forward to the world cup next year. I refused to have the sports channels on in my pub though, because of the arguments it causes.

[daboarder]

yup, I enjoy watching football, which often surprises my friends. Loved the federations cup, aside from the final, and looking forward to the world cup next year. I refused to have the sports channels on in my pub though, because of the arguments it causes.

I have this theory that its something about soccer that does this, maybe theres just not enough confrontation in the game and it just builds up and then after the spectators just go nuts.

But you don't generally see it on such a drastic and insane level in the spectators of other sports.

Take hockey, its one of the most violent games out their and yet the spectators are pretty well behaved. Or rugby same thing.

Mind you this view is from an auzzie

[Psychosplodge]

Take hockey, its one of the most violent games out their and yet the spectators are pretty well behaved.

[URL="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=canadian%20hockey%20riot&source=w eb&cd=2&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQFjAB&url=https%3A%2 F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2F2011_Vancouver_Stanl ey_Cup_riot&ei=jrzbUfq7AsK80QXKjoC4Cg&usg=AFQjCNF0 cSQbR-r7YTGHL45e6UWqI9ko8Q&bvm=bv.48705608,d.d2k"]Really?[/URL]

[daboarder]

[URL="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=canadian%20hockey%20riot&source=w eb&cd=2&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQFjAB&url=https%3A%2 F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2F2011_Vancouver_Stanl ey_Cup_riot&ei=jrzbUfq7AsK80QXKjoC4Cg&usg=AFQjCNF0 cSQbR-r7YTGHL45e6UWqI9ko8Q&bvm=bv.48705608,d.d2k"]Really?[/URL]

right, it must be an aussie thing then.