This makes the NBA problem look small.

[Nevadaref]

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)

[Nevadaref]

I want to call attention to the stiffness of the suspensions for those involved. The NBA could learn a lot from this. I'm tired of the little 15 game suspensions that they hand out.

[SmokeEater]

I notice the explanation for all these soccer players is "they were insulting my mother/sister!"

Dang if that were the case around here we would never play any ball.

[SamIAm]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I want to call attention to the stiffness of the suspensions for those involved. The NBA could learn a lot from this. I'm tired of the little 15 game suspensions that they hand out.

Don't get to excited, "could face" contains no substance.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I want to call attention to the stiffness of the suspensions for those involved. The NBA could learn a lot from this. I'm tired of the little 15 game suspensions that they hand out.

The problem in the NBA is that the so-called "disciplinary" authorities stand to lose money by handing out suspensions. They therefore have an intrinsic conflict of interest in every case that they consider.

Their deliberations then boil down to public relations rather than justice: the issue is rarely: "what do these individuals deserve?" but rather: "how can we maximize their playing time while getting the story off the sports pages?"

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by SamIAm

Don't get to excited, "could face" contains no substance.

Sorry Sam, I thought that you would do your own google search to find out what the suspensions were. But since you were too lazy you can read this:

Brawl in Ecuador leads to mass suspensions
Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:09 AM GMT

QUITO (Reuters) - Eleven players were banned for between two and 12 months for taking part in a vicious brawl at the end of LDU's 1-1 draw at home to Barcelona, an Ecuadorean Football Federation official said on Tuesday.

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.

Three LDU players were banned from playing in any soccer league for a year, spokesman Victor Mestanza said.

Ecuador midfielder Patricio Urrutia was suspended for three months and national team mates Giovanni Espinoza and Edwin Tenorio were banned for two.
Among those suspended for a year was former Ecuador striker Agustin Delgado, who has played in two World Cups. He apologised for taking part in the melee in which he was filmed kicking and punching opponents.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Sorry Sam, I thought that you would do your own google search to find out what the suspensions were.

Who cares?

It's soccer.

[SamIAm]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I want to call attention to the stiffness of the suspensions for those involved. The NBA could learn a lot from this. I'm tired of the little 15 game suspensions that they hand out.

A couple of items for you:
1) If you were not so lazy, you would have posted the the penalty with the post above, it would have been more effective.

2)You also missed my mis-use of "too".
Don't get to excited, "could face" contains no substance. Should have been, Don't get too excited, "could face" contains no substance.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by SamIAm

A couple of items for you:
2)You also missed my mis-use of "too".
Don't get to excited, "could face" contains no substance. Should have been, Don't get too excited, "could face" contains no substance.

Can you spell 'Pyrrhic victory'?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Who cares?

It's soccer.

My sentiments exactly.

Peace

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by mbyron

The problem in the NBA is that the so-called "disciplinary" authorities stand to lose money by handing out suspensions. They therefore have an intrinsic conflict of interest in every case that they consider.

Their deliberations then boil down to public relations rather than justice: the issue is rarely: "what do these individuals deserve?" but rather: "how can we maximize their playing time while getting the story off the sports pages?"

Actually, the NBA hands out stiffer penalties than any of the other pro sports leagues when it comes to fights.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Actually, the NBA hands out stiffer penalties than any of the other pro sports leagues when it comes to fights.

Says more about baseball and hockey than it does about basketball. I'm not sure this is accurate in comparison to football, but that's because you just don't get the same kind of fights.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Actually, the NBA hands out stiffer penalties than any of the other pro sports leagues when it comes to fights.

At the moment they do. At the moment they have a better cash flow.