Chile files complaint against Canadian police in FIFA fight:

[Praxius]

Now this story I love...

Chile files complaint against Canadian police in FIFA fight

Chile's foreign minister filed a formal complaint with Ottawa over what he called "unjustified aggression" by Toronto police as they scuffled with Chilean team members after a FIFA Under-20 World Cup soccer match. The incident took place late Thursday after the team lost 3-0 to Argentina in a semifinal match at BMO Field in Toronto. According to a Chilean official, police used pepper spray and Tasered some players in order to prevent them from reaching a large fence that separated them from hundreds of angry, chanting fans. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said the reports of police using pepper spray and batons were "serious facts." "In our opinion, what happened is particularly serious because the Chilean delegation suffered an unjustified use of force," Bachelet said. On Friday morning, Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley confirmed he sent a letter to his Canadian counterpart, Foreign Minister Peter MacKay, demanding the Canadian government explain why law enforcement officers reacted with what he described as such "unusual methods." "You can't treat people who have gone there to represent Chile in a sporting event like this," said Foxley. "Above all, we decided to send a diplomatic note … to make them understand the malaise in Chile over what happened, the excessive violence, and to formally ask them to give us a detailed explanation of why this happened and who is responsible." A spokesman for Foreign Affairs in Ottawa, André Lamay, said later in the day that MacKay would not comment on the incident until Ottawa receives the official letter of complaint. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was warmly received in Chile just days ago, was hesitant to say much about the incident. "As we know, these international soccer matches are hotly contested and often become very emotional," Harper said in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. "Look, as you know, there are processes in Canada by which the authorities review these kinds of incidents." When the brawl took place, tempers were already simmering because the team felt the officiating unfairly affected the outcome of the game. Police eventually handcuffed several players, some of them bloodied and screaming, and escorted them back into the dressing room while shocked FIFA and Canadian soccer officials looked on. Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair issued a statement defending his force. "The job of my officers was to respond in a firm, but fair, manner to end that violence. They are trained to do so, and that is what they did," he said. None of the players were charged.

In Earlier reports on the day this occured, what was explained was the fight was starting to break out between the players on the field, and eventually the police had to come in and seperate the players from the Ref.

After the game, the players headed back to their bus and there were chanting fans doing their thing that fans do..... piss the other team off.... so if I remember correctly, one or two of the players got off the bus and made their way to the crowd.

THe police then stepped in, and as they tried to subdue the player, the other team mates began to step off the bus and enclose the officers.... at which time the pepper spray and tasers were brought out I believe.

One thing I liked to point out above:

"You can't treat people who have gone there to represent Chile in a sporting event like this,"

You can if they come into your country to start fights and riots on our streets.... just because you came from another country, doesn't mean you get diplomatic immunity for whatever you do.

Here's more detail in what happened that night:

Chilean soccer team involved in melee with police - FIFA U-20 - Sports - CBC.ca

The commotion started as Chilean players were about to greet fans after their 3-0 defeat against Argentina in the semifinal match of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. Police prevented the players from reaching the large fence that separated them from their fans. As pushing and shoving began, a Chilean official said police used pepper spray and a Taser gun to subdue the players and some other members of the nation's soccer delegation.

1st off.... why did they think it was smart to go and push and shove police officers to begin with?

"All of a sudden, we looked over and there was a big brawl that breaks out, between four or five people," Denette said. "Next thing you know, the bus just unloads and there's eight, 10 players come off the bus and there's just fists flying everywhere, between the cops, the security guards, a couple of ladies were involved that were security.

Yeah, do the police sound justified yet?

"It looked like a big dogfight. People throwing fists and cops with their billy clubs out and then all of a sudden it got out of control and a police officer grabbed his Taser gun and Tasered someone — I don't know if he was a player or if he was part of the team. As soon as that happened, it got even worse." A window of the bus carrying Chile's team was smashed and the bus was later towed away. "We heard this big bang … it was just commotion after commotion after commotion," Denette said. "Some of the players were trying to get players back on the bus, but some were furious. They were trying to get back off the bus. And then they opened up the windows on the bus and were throwing things at the officers. And then all of sudden, they were trying to grab them from the inside of the bus. And it just escalated."

Two Chilean players were ejected during their loss to Argentina. German referee Wolfgang Stark handed out 11 yellow and red cards on the night — nine to the Chileans — and Chile's coaching staff had to keep their players from physically abusing the official once the game was over.

So you tell me?

To me this sounds just like typical soccer rage gone wrong, and this kids thought that they could get away with it, they thought they could get away with attacking officers?

Like cry a dam river.... you got sprayed and tasered.... I wonder why?

Welcome to Canada!

[another day]

I'm usually vehemently against the cops but in this instance it's just an altercation between two groups, one of which has weapons and better equipment.

You gotta wonder though, in these situations, whether the police presence is what instigates combat in the first place. Their constant presence at such events seems to be a catalyst for violence and encourages it rather then discourages it.

[Praxius]

Ha ha... and as expected:



CTV.ca | Chilean player admits teammate punched officer

A Chilean soccer player who was part of an angry post-match confrontation between his squad and Toronto police has admitted that a teammate punched a female officer. "I don't know who hit her, but yes, someone did hit a female officer," Isaias Peralta, who was tasered by police during the melee, told Chile's El Mercurio newspaper. The revelation comes as Toronto police plan to release a report as early as today following a thorough investigation into the incident. The clash, which sparked an international political backlash, came after Chile lost to Argentina in a heated semi-final match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup earlier this month. Chilean players claim they were clubbed by police as they headed to their bus after a security guard prevented one member of the team from talking to some fans. Police then handcuffed team members, many of them bloodied and screaming, and escorted them back into the dressing room where they were detained for several hours. According to the Chilean delegation, nine players were detained but all were let go without charges. Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair backed his officers saying they responded in a "firm but fair" way to "aggressive behaviour" by the players. But Peralta said his teammate only punched the female officer after they were hit without good reason. Police spokesperson Mark Pugash confirmed to the Toronto Star that a female officer was hit in the face. "Police were on the receiving end of some considerably aggressive behaviour," Pugash said. "And their job in those circumstances is to stop that behaviour." Peralta's remarks are the first in which a player from the team has admitted any responsibility in the incident. At the time, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet told local reporters she was dismayed with the use of "unjustified aggression" by police. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who had just visited Chile a few days prior to the fight, said only that "international soccer matches are hotly contested and often become very emotional." He added that "There are processes in Canada by which the authorities review these kinds of things and I don't intend to comment any further."

So they admitted to hitting a female police officer in the face? And we're the bad guys?

Our police forces don't have much of a record in beating up forign sports competitors in our country, so why would we logically start a scene and begin to beat teenagers up without regard?

Hell, even the day of it happening, the players were saying our police were laughing and enjoying themselves as they beat and sprayed them..... WTF are we? Canadian.... not the Nazi SS.

And I like how one of them confessed the day before our official report is to be released..... I am egar in seeing it myself.

IMO, this was just a bunch of teenage punks like in our country or any other country, who thought they had some big credibility and could act the way they did..... either that or they watched too much Leathal Weapon and thinking they had Diplomatic Immunity or something stupid.

[Praxius]

Quote by: another day You gotta wonder though, in these situations, whether the police presence is what instigates combat in the first place. Their constant presence at such events seems to be a catalyst for violence and encourages it rather then discourages it.

In this situation the teams rage was already on the fields and they were begining to start a fight with one of the refs in the game, so it all started well before the police stepped in.

[Praxius]

As expected.... UPDATE:



CTV.ca | U20 Chile player banned for misconduct in Toronto

The world governing body of soccer has banned a Chilean player for nine months over his behaviour towards officials at a game in Toronto last month that later erupted into a brawl. Jaime Grondona was on the bench against Argentina but was punished by FIFA's disciplinary committee for "two separate cases of assaulting match officials" after a semifinal loss to Argentina on July 19 at the U20 World Cup tournament. Grondona was also fined 7,000 Swiss francs (C$6,180), while the Chilean soccer association was fined 15,000 Swiss francs (C$13,250) for "team misconduct" for the "aggressive actions" by players and officials at the end of the match. Following the bitter 3-0 loss, irate Chilean players and team officials surrounded the referees. The referee and his assistants eventually left the stadium with a police escort, dodging debris thrown from the stands. The Chilean players then brawled with Toronto police and security guards at the team bus outside BMO Field. A female officer was punched in the face, while other constables were spat upon and even kicked in the groin. During the melee, players dismantled armrests and footrests from their team's bus seats, smashed the vehicle's windows and threw objects at officers. The players were detained but no charges were laid. The confrontation became an international incident, with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet saying police used "unjustified aggression." After an investigation by Toronto police, Chief Bill Blair concluded his officers showed "an immense amount of restraint" and acted appropriately towards the aggressive players. FIFA said its responsibility only covered the on-field actions of the team, adding the local organizing committee and police were responsible for everything else that ensued. FIFA also banned Nigeria's under-20 coach Ladan Bosso for four months for "offensive behaviour" following his team's quarterfinal defeat to Chile after extra time in Montreal four days before the incident in Toronto. Bosso was also fined 11,000 Swiss francs (C$9,715) for suggesting that racism influenced the referee's decisions during the July 15 match. "What happened on the pitch, the officiating, I think FIFA has a long way to go to beat racism, because that official showed racism," Bosso said at the time.

Sorry, but I think perhaps the President should apologize to the TO police force for such a quick judgement call on their actions, when it is clear their players were at fault long before the police arrived.

And spitting on, kicking in the groin, punching a female officer, etc? I'd friggin taser and mace their asses too.... let alone charge them.

They got off easy, esspecially for causing such an international stink and putting all the blame squarely on those trying to keep the peace.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Quote by: Praxius In this situation the teams rage was already on the fields and they were begining to start a fight with one of the refs in the game, so it all started well before the police stepped in.

I agree, in these instances, cops aren't the intigaors, just usually the targets of the emotion generated on feild..