Pitch Riots & Bolivian Beatdowns

Traveling to the sort of “fringe countries” in terms of South American football (read: those not named Argentina or Brazil) almost always proves to be an exercise in believing the unbelievable. Today’s example: Bolivia.

A top flight game between Wilstermann and Aurora turned out to be a top flight cage match between Aurora and riot popo when a freshly red carded player decided he would make the call and that he was not, in fact, going to be sent off. Not typically a good move, youngsters. Watch and learn.

So the riot police come to escort him to his premature shower. Given the fact that he was very upset about the red card (Aurora was losing 1-0 – he’s merely a team player), you can guess where this is going. As the police use force, his teammates come to his rescue and pretty soon the WWE’s Royal Rumble breaks out Bolivian-style near the goal line.

The outfield players are clearly new to this game – tip for up-and-coming football stars/future pitch brawlers: you might be able to kick a ball well, but Your Foot v Police Riot Shield is always going to end up Riot Shield 1 – Your Foot 0 – but a sneaking suspicion says the goalkeepers a wily veteran when it comes to these events. He knows one doesn’t show up at a fight unprepared without some sort of weaponry, so he grabs the corner flag and starts beating riot police with it (just after the 6:00 mark).

Good viewing, probably bad for the football, but it is a step in the right direction for the country. That picture up top to the left is also a brawl in Bolivia, only that one occurred in their national Congress. Baby steps.

Aurora v Wistlermann fisticuffs at 2:30. Aurora v Riot Popo at 5:30. Who needs PPV boxing?

[Spotted on Unprofessional Foul]

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Category: South America, World Football