Justice Files: Kung Fu Kicks Get One Year Bans, Apparently.

A transfer window of frugality kicking off the international break makes this, officially, the most boring week in the history of football. My desire for interesting football news hit such embarrassing depths last night I even jumped into the Google machine to see what Steven Appiah is up to these days (not much, it seems).

Fortunately, the footballing disciplinary systems haven’t taken the week off and have been doling out their brand of justice left and right. Two games for Eduardo yesterday, while Axel Witsel was sent to the dungeons for three months. Both might consider their punishments long (Eduardo relative to his crime), but they’ve got nothin’ on Sergio Jauregui: one year for that incredible ode to Chuck Norris above.

The explanation goes a little something like this (if you haven’t seen this video thousands of times already):

Television pictures showed the trouble started during an Oriente Petrolero attack on goal with Medina’s elbow appearing to catch Jauregui, who ended up in the back of the net. The furious Jauregui then rushed 20 metres and pushed Medina to the ground. Both men were sent off.
Pictures showed that as Medina was entering the inflatable tunnel behind the goal, Jauregui attacked him with a flying karate kick. Medina was struck feet first high on the chest and collapsed while furious Oriente players and substitutes surrounded Jauregui. Jauregui, who played for Bolivia during the 2006 World Cup qualifying competition, later visited Medina in hospital and apologised. He also offered to pay the Uruguayan player’s medical expenses, local media said.

The quick show of remorse probably got him off with what could have been a much worse sentence, but that’s two attacks which were clearly premeditated. One year is a bit too lenient for my taste. But then I don’t have a taste for boots, either, and maybe Jauregui simply thought Medina did.

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Category: South America