Bolivia's President Evo Morales smiles as he enters the pitch before a friendly soccer match against La Paz's government officials in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Oct, 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Whether it’s political strife or a soccer spat, this has bad manners written all over it.
Bolivian president Evo Morales has been caught on camera kneeing a soccer opponent in the groin during a match he and his political party–the Movement towards Socialism party–played. The game was meant to celebrate a new pitch in La Paz and the opposing team was made up of Morales’ political opposition, the Movement Without Fear party, led by La Paz’s mayor, Luis Revilla.
Shortly after the “friendly” game began, however, Morales was fouled by opponent Daniel Gustavo Cartagena. Morales quickly retaliated by turning around and kneeing Cartagena in the groin.
Check out the video of the incident:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7N-H3E1-p8&feature=player_embedded]
To add insult to injury (literally!), police attempted to arrest Cartagena after the match, but were stopped by Mayor Revilla.
“This was a football match, and on the pitch we are all players. It was just a clash. I am not moving while one of my players is in danger,” Revilla reportedly told police.
If this is a friendly match, we’d hate to see what it looks like when things get ugly. (via BBC)