At Least Peru Is Throwing The Hammer Down

By: chris | August 17th, 2009

South American football’s reputation is a burning, engine-less plane plummeting to its demise inside the crater of a climaxing supervolcano. Or maybe that’s too kind. And a great deal of this is down to a refusal by the associations to take drastic measures. Argentina has suspended its season indefinitely, but that’s down to finances rather than illegal extracurriculars. Fortunately Peru has decided that even the slightest infraction is worth making an example.

Aside from wielding an excellent vowel-to-consonant ratio, Leoa Butron is a keeper for Peruvian club San Martin. Back in July he was sent off or having the precision timing capabilities of a sun dial in a windowless shack. He protested the red and, in his furor, put his hands on the referee in a way we’ve seen so many players do time and time again. Nothing seemingly malicious, rather a “turn and face me when I’m yelling at you” type of deal. And according to my knowledge-less translation of YouTube Spanish, he was charged with molesting the referee. Cue three month ban (plus one game for good measure).

The appeal finished late last week and, while the sentence was cut, it’s still an incredible suspension for what is arguably a hand placement without devious intent: seven games. If we were to look at the tapes in Europe, how many seven game suspensions would be handed out per fixture? Likely a fair few.

Of course South America has never wanted for severe bans, but this was a statement suspension. His infraction was less than nothing on the grand scheme, and his initial foul smacks of protecting himself from a steaming attacker.

One gets the feeling as South America’s reputation continues its death plunge, we’ll see more and more hard stances by the continent’s football associations attempting, in any way possible, to quash these “extracurriculars” where they stand. Perhaps this is the only way for South American football to move forward: hand out bans like it’s going out of style, close stadiums, shut down leagues, etc. Anything to move forward.

So maybe now, with a hopeful glance to the future, would be a good time to sit down with the River Plate and Boca Juniors U14 squads simply for the football.