I'm surprised JK hasn't tried this yet on your boys

[Douggy B 0]

Bill Shankly once said football was much more than a matter of life and death, but the president of Argentinian Primera División side Rosario Central is not convinced. Horacio Usandizaga last week threatened to kill his players if the team are relegated.

 

Usandizaga, who is also a politician, was unwittingly caught on film earlier this month as he vented his spleen in front of the club's supporters. "Central are going to get out of this situation," he said. "We are going to move forward. We are going to kill the players, coaching staff and anyone else."

 

The speech has caused outrage across Argentina, a country blighted by football violence in recent years. The Argentina Football Association (AFA) president, Julio Grondona, was quick to condemn Usandizaga's comments.

 

"If there is anything in the AFA statutes about a punishment for such incidents, I think it would be appropriate," he said in a radio interview. "These are things which one can't understand. The passion and demands present in a soccer tournament have grown out of all proportion."

 

Rosario's captain, Cristian Gonzalez, said the team were shocked by Usandizaga's rant. "We want to express our pain and our sentiments over this situation. We are as interested and as committed as anyone in trying to make sure that Rosario Central regain their historical place, which we have lost for various reasons."

 

Nicknamed "The Scoundrels", Rosario Central are one of Argentina's oldest clubs, but have been in steady decline since they last won the Argentine Primera División in 1987. A series of economic problems partly explain why they currently lie 17th out of 20 teams in the relegation standings, which are decided over three seasons.

Edited October 15, 2008 by Danny B

[Park Life 70]

Bill Shankly once said football was much more than a matter of life and death, but the president of Argentinian Primera División side Rosario Central is not convinced. Horacio Usandizaga last week threatened to kill his players if the team are relegated.

 

Usandizaga, who is also a politician, was unwittingly caught on film earlier this month as he vented his spleen in front of the club's supporters. "Central are going to get out of this situation," he said. "We are going to move forward. We are going to kill the players, coaching staff and anyone else."

 

The speech has caused outrage across Argentina, a country blighted by football violence in recent years. The Argentina Football Association (AFA) president, Julio Grondona, was quick to condemn Usandizaga's comments.

 

"If there is anything in the AFA statutes about a punishment for such incidents, I think it would be appropriate," he said in a radio interview. "These are things which one can't understand. The passion and demands present in a soccer tournament have grown out of all proportion."

 

Rosario's captain, Cristian Gonzalez, said the team were shocked by Usandizaga's rant. "We want to express our pain and our sentiments over this situation. We are as interested and as committed as anyone in trying to make sure that Rosario Central regain their historical place, which we have lost for various reasons."

 

Nicknamed "The Scoundrels", Rosario Central are one of Argentina's oldest clubs, but have been in steady decline since they last won the Argentine Primera División in 1987. A series of economic problems partly explain why they currently lie 17th out of 20 teams in the relegation standings, which are decided over three seasons.

 

 

Good stuff.