Fans Behead Referee After He Stabs Player

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Someone can correct me on this, but I suspect there's never been a beheading at a motorsport event. Nor, I hazard, hundreds of other sports.

There could have been at Brazil 2008. Luckily, Charlie Whiting withheld from stabbing Massa.

 

[McLaren]

Someone can correct me on this, but I suspect there's never been a beheading at a motorsport event. Nor, I hazard, hundreds of other sports.

Saying "sport drives people insane" is just as asinine as saying "video games make people kill people".

The nature of the fans involved has far more to do with it than "sport" does. That said, football is unfortunately known for being quite a catalyst for violence. Extremely partisan crowds, alcohol often involved, emotions running high etc. That, and the poor actions of those who play it - footballers aren't the best role models.

I have a feeling Carl meant it in a way that sports just bring out the worst in people, which it can. Somebody you think is relatively calm & respectful, suddenly screaming at a TV screen calling players/refs all sorts of names might generally come across as "insane".

 

[Mikeybc]

I have a feeling Carl meant it in a way that sports just bring out the worst in people, which it can. Somebody you think is relatively calm & respectful, suddenly screaming at a TV screen calling players/refs all sorts of names might generally come across as "insane".

I've seen this at hockey games where parents turn into instant A-holes because their 8 year old kid got called for a tripping penalty.

 

[Ardius]

Sport drives people insane.

Fact.

No.

There are many factors involved that cause violence in these cases:
-Group mentality encouraged by teams, cities or nations
-Alcohol
-Popularity (which in turn attracts more idiots)
-Poor security and/or safety

I'd go mainly with alcohol being the biggest problem around.

There are sports that don't promote the group mentality so much so I don't think "sports" causes violence. Maybe being unable to take a loss causes violence. Then again I don't think that applies only to sports.

In this case I think its pretty obvious that the referee sparked it with his own madness. I'm not sure you can describe a referee stabbing someone as an ordinary action in sports.

 

[Cano]

Aaaand the World Cup and Olympics are gonna be held there. Yup.

 

[Mikeybc]

Just read a news story stating it was family and friends of the stabbed player that went after the ref. not just random fans, any truth to this ? If I saw my son or another family member or close friend get fataly stabbed I don't know what I'd do, could it not be ruled a crime of passion giving the perpetrators the right to plea temporary insanity ?

 

[Johnnypenso]

I've seen this at hockey games where parents turn into instant A-holes because their 8 year old kid got called for a tripping penalty.

I could be wrong but I don't recall anyone getting beheaded or stabbed although there have been some brutal fights.

Just read a news story stating it was family and friends of the stabbed player that went after the ref. not just random fans, any truth to this ? If I saw my son or another family member or close friend get fatally stabbed I don't know what I'd do, could it not be ruled a crime of passion giving the perpetrators the right to plea temporary insanity ?

Looks like it was family members leading the group. They have video of most of it so they'll have no problem identifying the perps. Hopefully they have the death penalty there.

 

[homeforsummer]

I have a feeling Carl meant it in a way that sports just bring out the worst in people, which it can. Somebody you think is relatively calm & respectful, suddenly screaming at a TV screen calling players/refs all sorts of names might generally come across as "insane".

While I agree with this, it came across quite differently in his post, hence my response.

But yes, I have friends who like football (soccer) - and it is usually football that seems to see these feelings bubble to the surface - who change completely when there's a match on. Highly partisan sports do have a worrying tendency to turn people into arseholes.

That said, I have plenty of sport-loving friends who accept defeat etc as part of the game.

As for this Brazil incident, I think it points to deeper societal issues. It would certainly make me think twice about awarding the country both the World Cup and the Olympics.

Just read a news story stating it was family and friends of the stabbed player that went after the ref. not just random fans, any truth to this ? If I saw my son or another family member or close friend get fataly stabbed I don't know what I'd do, could it not be ruled a crime of passion giving the perpetrators the right to plea temporary insanity ?

No. I could understand a retaliatory stabbing (it wouldn't make it any more right, but I could understand it), but medieval methods of punishment are several steps too far. It's not a crime of passion, it's barbarism.

 

[Famine]

That said, I have plenty of sport-loving friends who accept defeat etc as part of the game.

Further strengthening my argument that everyone should be forced to support Sheffield Wednesday for 5 years before they can choose their own favourite sport and team.

 

[Ibonibo]

Well good we organise the World Cup and Olympia there...

Apart from the security issues in the country, it also destroys a country financially.

 

[Cano]

it also destroys a country financially.

Wat. Explain?

 

[Ibonibo]

^Go look (google,...) that most of those places that cost millions to make (Olympia Cities, Stadiums,...) are mostly deserted after the main events.
Those millions are needed to satisfy the commities of the events, and while the country might benefit from it financially for a few weeks or months it's a grave from the beginning on.

Those millions spend in South Africa could have been used way better, for the local people. Just as it is in Brasil. Like water and electricity. And that doesn't even include the corruptions money that passes on these occassions in those countries.

Peking :

Other

 

[Joel]

Yeah, don't know about the World Cup but generally the Olympics ends up being a net loss financially. Maybe some rare cases where most of the facilities were in place, but even then the logistics costs are astronomical. The city of Montreal only just finished paying off the Olympic Stadium a few years ago. Granted, that partially had to do with there being no MLB team in Montreal anymore, and a CFL team can't support a 50,000 seat stadium as the primary tenant.

 

[Mikeybc]

No. I could understand a retaliatory stabbing (it wouldn't make it any more right, but I could understand it), but medieval methods of punishment are several steps too far. It's not a crime of passion, it's barbarism.

Yeah, that's true it was way way over the top, and after thinking more about the display of the head on a stick makes it seem to me that they took pride in what they did.

 

[Dennisch]

Is there also a stadium being build in a city without a pro soccer team? I recall hearing something like that on Dutch tv but I can't find anything about it.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Yeah, don't know about the World Cup but generally the Olympics ends up being a net loss financially. Maybe some rare cases where most of the facilities were in place, but even then the logistics costs are astronomical. The city of Montreal only just finished paying off the Olympic Stadium a few years ago. Granted, that partially had to do with there being no MLB team in Montreal anymore, and a CFL team can't support a 50,000 seat stadium as the primary tenant.

Not true. Most Olympic Games since L.A. have either made money or broke even...Athens being the very dramatic exception. I think the experience of Montreal forced some fiscal accountability on most of the organizers since then.

 

[Pupik]

I've heard about this and it's sickening. How can people love ANY sport so much?

Ftfy...Because they hate themselves. There's fans in America that are total buttholes, but nothing on this level (at least in the world of sports). Perhaps it's because they realize there's more to live for?

The thought behind the infrastructure improvements is that some folks think it will improve their little town or neighborhood. The only bits that see any benefits are the regions directly impacted by the new construction. It's a slow gain at best, but another way to turn a large fortune into a tiny one.

 

[marxlien]

In this case the issue is really away of football or the fact of them being football fans, clearly here these people weren't normal persons.
Why a referee will be with a knife in the pitch?

And assuming the behaviour of an ntire country for this, and put the WC in doubt is idiotic.
i've been in Brazil.and they are really good and kind people, and it is and awesome country.

 

[Dotini]

Why a referee will be with a knife in the pitch?

This deserves a well researched answer.

Some cultures have a long and deep tradition of knife fighting - for instance Spain.

Knife stabs are seldom fatal. Through the eye, heart and liver being the important exceptions.

For well over 1000 years a head on a spike has been the royal signal to even the most stupid and illiterate to refrain from committing certain crimes. So to the extent crime prevention is wise and effective, beheading is a wise and effective punishment. The trouble here is it was meted out by a mob and not the King.

 

[marxlien]

but for the brazilians having knives its not part of their culture.
i think that all this was made by people that in one way or another would have done this anyway.

 

[playnthru]

He needed a gun, football/soccer is far to violent for knives.

All ref's should be carrying guns at soccer games these days. It's about the most violent sport around it seems.

 

[marxlien]

No! football is awesome, and the people around it too, don't let that a bunch of guys make a wrong image of it to you.

Thanks to football i've had the lucky to watch stuff like this (although it's now forbidden =( )

 

[Grayfox]

Yeah, don't know about the World Cup but generally the Olympics ends up being a net loss financially. Maybe some rare cases where most of the facilities were in place, but even then the logistics costs are astronomical. The city of Montreal only just finished paying off the Olympic Stadium a few years ago. Granted, that partially had to do with there being no MLB team in Montreal anymore, and a CFL team can't support a 50,000 seat stadium as the primary tenant.

Sydney Olympic stadium still gets used quite often, but we host the cricket there(i think), i am also pretty sure our peanut ball is held there.

 

[LeadFootLiam]

This is why do not like soccer. IMO, it full of idiots.

 

[F1 fan]

Seriously, what is it about kicking a black-and-white ball around that incites bloodthirst?

I have no idea. Having been the victim of a football related surprise attack that damaged the sight in my left eye, I've always failed to understand the hatred it breeds. What did I do to deserve it? Be a terrible goalkeeper when forced to play at primary school.

A guy I used to work with was a rangers fan. For those who don't know, rangers colours are traditionally blue, whereas their rivals Celtic wear green. This guy changed the background on his work computer to green. I made a joke about him being a closet Celtic fan and he started screaming at me, calling me every name under the sun and told me to watch myself...

This was a fully grown man, although he obviously had the mentality of a child. Now I'm aware that not all football fans are like that, but there are a large number of people who will resort to violence over something so trivial as a game.

but I have to say the ref got what was coming to him.

No. What he deserved was a trial and a life sentence.

Someone can correct me on this, but I suspect there's never been a beheading at a motorsport event. Nor, I hazard, hundreds of other sports.

Not intentionally anyway.

 

[Jahgee]

No. What he deserved was a trial and a life sentence.

I wouldn't say life sentence, from what I've seen, I think the player hit him first, and he was just defending himself. I'm not sure what Brazil's law is, but here in America, that gets a different sentence. I doubt the ref entered the stadium with the mindset "I'm going to kill a player today." It was probably the situation that provoked the action.

I agree with the other parts of your post, but this part made me respond.

 

[disinfected]

I wondered if we'd have a thread about this. What the media fails to talk about is how this was not a sanctioned match or a real amateur team. An "amateur football" team in a remote part of Brazil is nothing like the amateur leagues in Europe.

This was more of a pick-up game in a far separated part of the country where vigilante justice is nothing out of the ordinary--ie lynching of rapists, beheading thieves, etc. The rural state of Maranhao could almost be compared to say for example the near lawless nations in East Africa.

This was a small match in an unruly part of the country that isn't even a host state for the World Cup. Brazil still has it's share of problems, but I feel like this goes beyond football, it's just a sad side effect of a forgotten region.

 

[R5]

This gives a country, sport and fanbase a terrible reputation. Sickening attack and it needs to end.

 

[Dotini]

I wondered if we'd have a thread about this. What the media fails to talk about is how this was not a sanctioned match or a real amateur team. An "amateur football" team in a remote part of Brazil is nothing like the amateur leagues in Europe.

This was more of a pick-up game in a far separated part of the country where vigilante justice is nothing out of the ordinary--ie lynching of rapists, beheading thieves, etc. The rural state of Maranhao could almost be compared to say for example the near lawless nations in East Africa.

This was a small match in an unruly part of the country that isn't even a host state for the World Cup. Brazil still has it's share of problems, but I feel like this goes beyond football, it's just a sad side effect of a forgotten region.

👍
Best post of the thread award!
You have made sense of it: A media failure conflating "true crime" in a remote corner of the world as something to do with soccer.