not cuba\'s finest moment...

[Ken Gargett]

set the video for the rugby last night (nice to get back to some real sport and how glorious were those wallabies in thumping south africa over there). it started late as they were still showing olympic stuff so watched that while settling in, this morning.

happened to be the cuban in the taekwondo. for anyone that missed it, he was ruled out of the bout as he exceeded the time allowed out for injuries - it is apparently a set period and nothing that can be done. so he kicked the ref in the head - needed stitches.

unbelievable!! utterly disgraceful (worst thing i have seen since in sport since andy haden faked it in the lineout in the last game of the kiwi's grand slam tour in the 70's to earn a penalty to win the game).

seriously, i heard he was banned for life. not enough. i gather he won a gold or some medal at a previous olympics. they should strip him of that.

it will be interested to see cuba's reaction. i know how much that country respects and idolises its sportsmen who have been successful (and i thought the chinese non-reaction to the brilliant win of the cuban hurdler was petty poor). what will happen to someone who has brought disgrace on himself and his country?

[Guest Warren]

I saw that too Ken but I also heard that his coach was also banned for life.

Perhaps they could take up synchronized swimming.

All the way to Florida:-D

[Ken Gargett]

» I saw that too Ken but I also heard that his coach was also banned for

» life.

» Perhaps they could take up synchronized swimming.

»

» All the way to Florida:-D

he may have to!

[asc]

Coach was banned for life also because he wouldn't apologize, claimed the KZ's had rigged the match for cash. Amazing.

That kick was blisteringly quick...made my jaw drop.

[GoSteelers]

» Coach was banned for life also because he wouldn't apologize, claimed the

» KZ's had rigged the match for cash. Amazing.

»

» That kick was blisteringly quick...made my jaw drop.

Yeah thats what the Ref said.

[mkz]

And worst of all: the ref is from Sweden.

Totally disgraceful behaviour from the cuban!!

[Punch Joe]

It´s a shame for me as a Cuban to see a thing like this happens. I couldn´t believe it when they told me. At first I thought it was a joke since we have never reacted that way towards many unfair decisions in the past. What it hurts me the most is to see that our governement has not mentioned this fatal behaviour in any of our Media. I woke up this morning ready to google the whole thing up and when I entered this Forum I had enough confirmation. 1. This is twice shameless since it´s a fighting sport like boxing. You are not supposed to hit, beat or kick anyone but your rival within certain rules of the competition. We are not talking about basquetball or tennis, we are talking about flying kicks. 2. A referee is untouchable, is someone that you owe respect to and sometimes make some mistakes like any other human being. I have only one word for this. Frustration. Massive Frustration that generates this episode of violence. I´m sorry to say that we are troglodites in many respects and the world had a beautiful example with this great performance. Really happy with the two gold medals but really ashamed with this guy(who selected him in the first place?)

[matthew261]

"I´m sorry to say that we are troglodites in many respects and the world had a beautiful example with this great performance. Really happy with the two gold medals but really ashamed with this guy(who selected him in the first place?)"

Don't sweat it too much Punch Joe...we've all experienced shame rooted in the actions of some of our more public countrymen. In the end, the ref is likely recovering well (though he may never smoke another Cuban out of spite), and the competitor and coach are banned from ALL sanctioned competition (thus, their careers are over).

Additionally, Robles 110m hurdles victory was nothing short of magnificent. Something of which to be truly proud.

[csgrip]

I saw an article that Fidel himself called this match fixed by "a mafia" and refuses to apologize for the boxers actions

See here.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hMDvnma...Y3LQGAD92PESQ80

[zuma]

The following is an excerpt from a [link=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/23/2344656.htm?site=olympics/2008]report[/link] in the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corp.):

The World Taekwondo Federation immediately said Matos and his coach would be permanently barred from all championships it promotes.

"This is a strong violation of the spirit of taekwondo and the Olympic Games," the announcer said in the stadium reading from a World Taekwondo Federation statement.

"The sanctions are the following and are effective immediately: Lifetime ban of the coach and athlete in all championships sanctioned by the World Taekwondo Federation and at the same time, all records of this athlete at the Beijing Games will immediately be erased."

Chilmanov was surprised at Matos's "unsportsmanlike manner" and did not believe the Cuban would have been able to continue anyway after failing to recover within the regulation one-minute injury time.

"He got injured in the bout. To me it was obvious he was unable to continue. His toe on his left foot was broken," said Chilmanov, who went on to win the bronze medal.

What a bloody idiot! As Ken said, he deserves to be stripped of any mention and medal in prior olympics...