Ref Beheaded

[Peanut]

It disturbs me almost as much that people openly want to see a video of this.

[drywall_taper]

you watched it secretly, good for you

[normtwofinger]

I read a different article that family members of the player were involved in the stoning and beheading of the ref. So it's not just hooligans, the family had a vendetta. Their son or brother was just killed, so they probably wanted revenge. I am not justifying the beheading, but it gives insight as to why.

[sharkov]

And they say soccer is a non contact sport....

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Peanut

It disturbs me almost as much that people openly want to see a video of this.

It's ok i am a doctor

[fanman]

Why the hell was the ref carrying a knife during the match?
This whole thing is unbelievable. Football meets Thunderdome.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by fanman

Why the hell was the ref carrying a knife during the match?
This whole thing is unbelievable. Football meets Thunderdome.

Here's a situation where a referee in South Africa was carrying a gun:

http://www.petting-zoo.net/~deadbeef/archive/4123.html

[Hack&Lube]

I don't think it's a situation where we can blame the sport for any of what transpired. The psychopathic referee decided to stab and murder the player.

What happened afterwards was just mob anger/justice, which would happen in a whole lot of other places in the world.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What happened afterwards was just mob anger/justice, which would happen in a whole lot of other places in the world.

Yup, Brazil and Westeros

[spydermal]

Austin Powers: "He'll never be the head of a major corporation. "

[Daradon]

I have to agree that it is probably more a case of mob justice than soccer hooliganism. I understand why the ref might be carrying the knife, sadly enough. We've seen cases where he might want to defend himself. But for him to use it to kill a player? I can't imagine why he didn't think there would be reprisals. I guess a lot of it depends on how hard he was struck. Did he have reason to think his life was in danger? From the way the story reads, it doesn't seem like it, but stories like this get biased quickly. I still can't think of a reason why he'd have to stab a guy to death though.

Lastly, I think it said he was quartered. Not drawn and quartered. Small distinction I know, but a distinction anyway. I would imagine the stoning killed him, if not the decapitation.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by dammage79

This is insane but not surprising in terms of south american soccer fans. Didn't they shoot that columbian goalie to death for that own goal about a decade ago?

Andreas Escobar was shot 17 times outside a bar in Medellin, Colombia after his side were eliminated from the 1994 World Cup. Escobar was the "goat" in many Colombians' eyes after he conceded an own goal in the group match against the US. Colombia was favoured to go deep into the tournament and it was suspected at the time that a lot of mafioso-types lost a lot of money on their early exit.

I almost wish that this incident on Brazil happened at the professional level. It would be interesting to see how FIFA would respond - or not. There are very serious problems in South American football that make the 1970s in Europe look like a church picnic. Riots, murders, attacks on players and officials, the list is endless and yet nothing is ever said or done to address these issues.

Some more cynical than I would argue that nothing will be done to censure these new world footballing nations as the current FIFA President (Blatter) and the past President (de Havilange) both have/had their respective power bases in these types of countries. Traditional footballing confederations have not supported either candidacy very well and it is nothing short of disgraceful that places like this have been able to get away with similar-types of incidents.

While believable, this story is still unbelievable.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by NBC

I almost wish that this incident on Brazil happened at the professional level. It would be interesting to see how FIFA would respond - or not. There are very serious problems in South American football that make the 1970s in Europe look like a church picnic. Riots, murders, attacks on players and officials, the list is endless and yet nothing is ever said or done to address these issues.

Some more cynical than I would argue that nothing will be done to censure these new world footballing nations as the current FIFA President (Blatter) and the past President (de Havilange) both have/had their respective power bases in these types of countries. Traditional footballing confederations have not supported either candidacy very well and it is nothing short of disgraceful that places like this have been able to get away with similar-types of incidents.

Eh... First of all, CONMEBOL is the governing organization of South American football, not FIFA directly, and they are well aware that there are problems. Argentine has even labeled their football violence "a national crisis".

Next summer it will be 46 years since there last was a Wold Cup in South America, despite them being the other dominant continent in soccer. That alone should tell you all you need to know about how "soft" FIFA has been on South America.

I would also be curious to know what exactly do you suggest they do? These are societies that are trying to tackle a lot of problems.

Saying that football violence somehow stands out in these societies is really kind of a hyperbole. Outside of WW1&2, South America has always been the continent with more violence out of these two. Hence more football violence.

Also, since there is so much money involved in football, relatively speaking, many of the South Americanhooligan groups are in reality more like organized crime syndicates than simple fan clubs. This makes it very difficult for local governments to tackle these issues, especially since these are far from the only criminals they have to deal with.

But hey, if you have a ideas as to what FIFA should do about this, I'm sure they have an email address for suggestions somewhere.

[Bill Bumface]

The one time I went to a match in Brazil was fairly nuts. Among other things, there was a booze ban. I asked if they just had lots of problems with fights. I was told last time they lifted the ban there was 4 murders that game.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

The one time I went to a match in Brazil was fairly nuts. Among other things, there was a booze ban. I asked if they just had lots of problems with fights. I was told last time they lifted the ban there was 4 murders that game.

I've actually been talking to a guy from Brazil thats here to go to school and some of the cultural differences are amazing. We were watching the NHL playoffs and he was absolutely shocked.

"You can put 20,000 people in a building and they can all drink and theres no problems???"

"Yup, anywhere except Vancouver."

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Peanut

It disturbs me almost as much that people openly want to see a video of this.

Yeah. I have to admit, my morbid curiosity kicked in for a second and then I thought "Why in the hell would you want to see that?"

I refrained from seeking out any link.

[GreenLantern2814]

I can't help but laugh at this story. Dude murders a player for disputing a call. Fans storm the field, put his head on a spike. It's almost justice?

Given that Vancouver was burned down after a LOSS, what would have transpired if Stephen Walkolm had capped a Sedin?

[normtwofinger]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I can't help but laugh at this story.

Stopped reading your post there.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Did anyone else read, "Rat Beheaded"? I was thinking, "That's not so ba...Oh..."

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Locke

I've actually been talking to a guy from Brazil thats here to go to school and some of the cultural differences are amazing. We were watching the NHL playoffs and he was absolutely shocked.

"You can put 20,000 people in a building and they can all drink and theres no problems???"

"Yup, anywhere except Vancouver."

Their acceptance of the sexual love between a man and his lady boy companion is amazing.

Spoiler!