Cuban Taekwondo Fighter Kicks Ref After Losing Bronze

A Cuban taekwondo athlete has attacked the referee after losing his bronze-medal match.

Angel Matos was declared the loser for taking too much injury time after hurting his leg during the men's over-80 kg (176 pounds) match. Fighters get one minute, and Matos was disqualified when his time ran out.

Matos angrily questioned the call, pushed a judge, then pushed and kicked referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden. Matos then spat on the floor and was escorted out.

It was not immediately clear whether Matos would be punished.

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Watch video here:

Comments

[Lex10]

All I can think is the ref's still standing after getting kicked in the face by an olympian, and he shoulda said "THAT'S why you lost bronze!!"

[shadow322]

What I noticed first was this cry baby constantly taking injury time for nothing! Then instead of kicking his oponent (who would most certainly provide him a legitimate injury time out) this punk sucker kicks the ref. Real tough dud. I mean dude. No, I ment dud!

[SwingingFromCenter]

Judo CHOP!

[SpecialReports]

This story seems to be getting more interesting, a few new developments should be posted soon
http://specialreport.com/angel-matos-cuban-kicks-referee-video/

[elcojonu]

A white guy would be sanctioned; a brother is banned from the Sport.
That's ok thought, that Ref will think twice the next time he tries messin' with a Bro.

[majormoderate]

the dude kicked a ref in the face... a white guy would be banned also

[DrJimmy]

One problem with your theory.....A white guy would not have done that.....

[sixletters]

Why would you say a white guy would have only been sanctioned.

[ouroborous]

You, sir, are an idiot.

No matter what skin color, anyone who would assault a judge in a temper tantrum should be:

1) "Banned from the Sport" for life and
2) Prosecuted (assault with a deadly weapon)

Throwing a tantrum and kicking the judge isn't some sort of stand for freedom and equality. It's just a childish thing to do, and when it's done by a large man trained in martial arts, it's worthy of jail time.

[newhouse1]

Oh please, Jesus.

Elcojonu was auditioning for an HBO Comedy show spot with that comment, weren't you dude? I mean, you can't really have a purple sky in your world.

[SpecialReports]

Matos and his coach have now been permanently banned from the sport. http://specialreport.com/angel-matos-cuban-kicks-referee-video/

[elcojonu]

The'll move on to another sport or whatever.

[Chuckwheat]

Go back to commie Cuba.

[EddieTheEagle]

Full video:

http://vinovo.magnify.net/watch/playlist/G6R74GW2LP479HMR

Not only has taekwondo judging has been inconsistant, there have been complaints about corruption. The IOC almost removed Taekwondo as an Olympic sport for 2008, and with several bad incidents during the Beijing Olympics, I'm almost certain the IOC will kill off Taekwondo for 2012.

The Olympics have gotten too costly for most countries/cities to bid on and one easy way the IOC is going to reduce this expense is to eliminate about a dozen of the current 37 sports. Expect to see a few sports eliminated every 4 years. This won't end with baseball/basketball. Team sports cost a lot of money (lots of athletes to house) and if they have major pro leagues (e.g., basketball, tennis) whose revenues approach or exceed that of the Olympics, expect that sport to be dropped. Major pro sports don't need an Olympics to thrive and in most cases the IOC finds it not worthwhile to have these sports in the Olympics.

[SpecialReports]

It was sure a fast kick, I watched the full video at
http://specialreport.com/angel-matos-cuban-kicks-referee-video/

[dbdolan]

Not sure what's more embarrassing, acting like an outright neanderthal, or sucker-kicking an unsuspecting ref and NOT dropping him! Either way, outright assault charge and a bit of jail time seems the correct prescription.

[qwr]

I don't think he intended to hurt the ref. The kick only hit the ref's mouth and gave him a bloody lip. If Matos wanted to hurt him, he would have aimed for the chin or temple. Matos punched one of the judges in the arm afterwards--again, to not hurt him. Still inexcusable, of course.

[Agathena]

He also spat on the floor and flipped the bird after the kick. That wasn't satisfying enough.

And yes he sure did recover quickly from his 2 minute injury.

[Agathena]

The video is available here, copyrighted by BBC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlGjibiA8o8

He disgraced his profession/sport. What a loser!

[ThunderMongoose]

Sweep the leg!!

[sassafra]

banning for life was the perfect sanction for the offence. an olympic level martial artist should *never* under any circumstances be allowed to touch an official in anger.

[MadOzbo]

This article has NOT been updated.

Both the athlete AND his trainer have been banned for life from the Olympics AND the Intl. Taekwando Assn.

Additionally, all records of the athlete have been removed.

[PAposter]

Glad to hear they have been banned for life.

What do you mean all the records of the athlete have been removed?

[mrhla]

All the records of his various fights at the 2008 Olympics will be removed as if he never was there= additional punishment.

[MPeter]

This is good for the Olympic Organization. But it is too linient a punishment for embarrassing Cuba on the international stage. Now the govt of Cuba should follow this by executing the punk.

[SwingVoter]

Here is the Video: http://vinovo.magnify.net/video/Angel-Valodia-Matos-Cuban-Tae