
Thu Dec 21, 2006, 02:48am
|
Official Forum Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 15,015
|
|
This makes the NBA problem look small.
I saw some video footage of this on the news tonight. It was far more brutal than the NBA's Detroit/Indiana game incident.
Updated: Dec. 19, 2006, 10:13 AM ET
Delgado apologises for part in Ecuador brawl
Reuters Internet Delivery System
Soccer News Wire
QUITO, Dec 19 - Former Ecuador striker Agustin
Delgado has apologised for his part in a vicious brawl at the
end of LDU's 1-1 draw at home to Barcelona on Sunday.
Four Barcelona players were injured in the incident on the
last day of the season which shocked the country and
overshadowed the title won by El Nacional.
"I want to apologise to the fans, to all the young people
and children for my behaviour," Delgado told reporters.
"They (Barcelona) kicked me, they treated me badly
throughout the game, they kicked my injured leg and they know I
have problems in this leg, that's why I reacted like that."
Barcelona said on their Web site that midfielders Leondardo
Soledispa, David Garcia and Edwin Tenorio and defender Samuel
Vanegas were injured in the fight, one of the worst in
Ecuadorean soccer history.
Soledispa suffered a broken nose after being kicked while he
was on the ground while Garcia complained of headaches and
dizziness after being kicked and punched.
Colombian Vanegas sustained an injured eye and Tenorio, a
defensive midfielder who played for Ecuador at the World Cup, a
bruised face.
The Ecuadorean Football Federation (FEF) said on its Web
site that the incident started with a clash between Delgado and
his marker Victor Montoya.
Montoya denied that he had deliberately kicked Delgado's
injured knee.
"That's a lie," the 22-year-old told the daily newspaper El
Universo. "We were arguing for the whole game. I went in hard
and won all the duels. I think that upset him and he started to
insult my mother and I responded."
The FEF named LDU's Paraguayan central defender Carlos
Espinola as the chief aggressor and said he had flown back to
Asuncion after the game.
"It's not right that they react like that because of a bad
result," said Soledispa, who also suffered a swollen face.
Ecuadorean media said the players involved could face bans
of upto one year as well as jail sentences.
(Writing by Brian Homewood in Rio de Janeiro) |
|