Has Chile tainted the U-20 tourney? Fri, July 20, 2007
With Chilean tempers already boiling at some questionable officiating in their just-completed 3-0 semi-final loss to rival Argentina, chaos reigned supreme in the area of the Chile team bus, which was parked just outside the stadium.
According to witnesses, police used a stun gun on a member of the Chilean delegation as players were trickling onto the team bus, leading to a rukus featuring broken glass and pepper spray.
The incident is a wart on what to this point had been a successful event.
The big question for FIFA is how the situation last night got out of hand in the first place.
Send us your thoughts on the rukus on and off the pitch.
Just another bunch of sore losers and their execuses.
norman, 2007-07-21 13:51:13
This is a joke right?
The busload of angry young guys (after a loss and poorly officiated game - they felt) they wanted to "talk" with some fans who were apparently heckling them as they were boarding the bus to leave the stadium. The Bus ends up with a broken windshield - not easy to do...and police move in to try to get the players on to bus and get them out. Pretty obvious that the police were ignored and that these young guys felt that they should be allowed to take matters into their own hands. Chile should be ashamed of their coach, the players should not have been allowed to get into a situation to confront fans or defy police.
As for calls that Chile reject trade deals with Canada, I feel that any country that puts it's business and diplomatic decisions into the hands of brawling 19 year olds at a sporting event really are best steered clear of. No signs of stability there!
Dave, 2007-07-21 13:23:18
Another country comes to Canada and expects to be treated with "kid" gloves. Boys, welcome to Canada, I hope you had the idea before you left Chile that you would have to obey Canadian laws. Stay if you wish, you are always welcome to visit, but you start thinking you are above our laws and our terrific police forces...the plane is waiting on the tarmac for you. As for the official blaming that he got hit with acid.... buddy, perhaps you are not use to good Canadian water, statements like that just iritate me.
john, 2007-07-21 12:44:07
The one thing about soccer is that it seems the players must take a course in whining. Throw in a lot of shameless diving and there you have it...THE BEAUTIFUL GAME....NOT. A lot of fans of this game seem to love confrontation and fighting. I have no sympathy for the Chilean players. They behaved like children ....and to think people here say ice hockey is violent.
Mark
Mark, 2007-07-21 12:30:43
The rhetoric of the Chilean team officials and coming from Chilean media and government is utterly disgraceful on their part.
Investigate, certainly. Its welcomed. But for their leaders to be blindly subscribing to the highly dubious accounts from their players shows their character.
Only until after the investigation is complete should these leaders be commenting. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Lets wait for it because the accounts we're hearing now defy logic and commonsense.
Miguel, 2007-07-21 12:24:25
Surprise, surprise. A ruckus in the soccer world. Why should we be shocked? Where were the Chilean coaches and management when this erupted? Where is the leadership? Players tend to behave as their coaches do in all sports. Blame the police? Pardon the pun, but that's a "cop-out" for not being able to control your own team. You got your behinds kicked . . . simple. Move on. Such a lack of class tainting the entire tournament.
Michael, 2007-07-21 11:54:42
OK, two things need addressing really quickly:
1) I watched most of this tourney either live (in Montreal) or on television and, in my assessment, the Chileans were the least interested in fair play of ANY club. (Save for maybe Uruguay who tried to start a fight against the Americans ON the pitch after a tough loss). Their diving was an object lesson in why North Americans are slow to warm up to football in the first place. An embarrassment to the game, frankly. The fact that they got "out dived" by Argentina looks (to me at least) like just deserts.
2) SO, when those same sore-losing spoiled sports decide to cause a ruckus outside the stadium. And when they decide to take a run at the cops…SURPRISINGLY bad things happen to them. “Acid in my face” Seriously? Maybe the Chilean kiddies are rolling around in the media looking for another yellow.
Disgusting
FC, 2007-07-21 11:24:48
Chile is complaining about police abuse. CHILE! The reffing was atrocious,I agree. Some may have got tazed. Fight with the police and that happens.
Ron, 2007-07-21 10:57:52
There is a reason why police react the way they do. "They're just kids" - they are 19-20 years old - these are not kids.. an officer is warranted to use force when they feel they are being threatened... being pulled into a bus by a soccer team full of 19-20 year old athletes that are in good shape is a threat.. just lucky it's bumps and bruises only.. the officers obviously felt they were threatened.
qmann73, 2007-07-21 10:50:17
It's always someone elses fault
The police did their jobs and dealt with a bunch of immature jerks who thought that because they lost they could act like animals
They threatened the ref, and police.
I also ask the Canadian government to act. Not one of these players should ever be allowed the priveledge of coming into Canada again
Eric, 2007-07-21 10:32:35
Has Chile tainted the U-20 tourney?
norman, 2007-07-21 13:51:13
The busload of angry young guys (after a loss and poorly officiated game - they felt) they wanted to "talk" with some fans who were apparently heckling them as they were boarding the bus to leave the stadium. The Bus ends up with a broken windshield - not easy to do...and police move in to try to get the players on to bus and get them out. Pretty obvious that the police were ignored and that these young guys felt that they should be allowed to take matters into their own hands. Chile should be ashamed of their coach, the players should not have been allowed to get into a situation to confront fans or defy police.
As for calls that Chile reject trade deals with Canada, I feel that any country that puts it's business and diplomatic decisions into the hands of brawling 19 year olds at a sporting event really are best steered clear of. No signs of stability there!
Dave, 2007-07-21 13:23:18
john, 2007-07-21 12:44:07
Mark
Mark, 2007-07-21 12:30:43
Investigate, certainly. Its welcomed. But for their leaders to be blindly subscribing to the highly dubious accounts from their players shows their character.
Only until after the investigation is complete should these leaders be commenting. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Lets wait for it because the accounts we're hearing now defy logic and commonsense.
Miguel, 2007-07-21 12:24:25
Michael, 2007-07-21 11:54:42
1) I watched most of this tourney either live (in Montreal) or on television and, in my assessment, the Chileans were the least interested in fair play of ANY club. (Save for maybe Uruguay who tried to start a fight against the Americans ON the pitch after a tough loss). Their diving was an object lesson in why North Americans are slow to warm up to football in the first place. An embarrassment to the game, frankly. The fact that they got "out dived" by Argentina looks (to me at least) like just deserts.
2) SO, when those same sore-losing spoiled sports decide to cause a ruckus outside the stadium. And when they decide to take a run at the cops…SURPRISINGLY bad things happen to them. “Acid in my face” Seriously? Maybe the Chilean kiddies are rolling around in the media looking for another yellow.
Disgusting
FC, 2007-07-21 11:24:48
Ron, 2007-07-21 10:57:52
qmann73, 2007-07-21 10:50:17
The police did their jobs and dealt with a bunch of immature jerks who thought that because they lost they could act like animals
They threatened the ref, and police.
I also ask the Canadian government to act. Not one of these players should ever be allowed the priveledge of coming into Canada again
Eric, 2007-07-21 10:32:35