Morales kicks where it hurts

Bolivian president Evo Morales in football clash

Bolivian President Evo Morales has been caught on camera apparently kneeing an opponent in the groin during a football game.

The kick, which came after the president had been fouled, happened during a friendly match against a team led by the mayor of La Paz.

The opposing player and one of Mr Morales' bodyguards were both sent off.

Reports say police tried to arrest the opposition player at the end of the match before the mayor intervened.

Evo Morales led out a team of his governing Movement towards Socialism (Mas) party against the opposition Movement Without Fear (MSM) led by the mayor of La Paz, Luis Revilla.

The match was a friendly to inaugurate a new football field in Pa Paz, Bolivia's political capital.

Bruising encounter

But within five minutes, things turned nasty.

Mr Morales was fouled by an opposition player, Daniel Gustavo Cartagena.

In an apparent retaliation caught on video, he was seen kneeing Mr Cartagena in the genitals, sending him sprawling.

"I passed the ball and, suddenly, I got hit, and not for the first time," the president said later.

After receiving treatment for injury, Mr Morales played on, and scored a goal.

The match ended 4-4, with four players sent off, including Mr Cartagena and one of the president's bodyguards.

After the final whistle, police tried to arrest the opposition player, but were stopped by Mr Revilla, local media reported.

"This was a football match, and on the pitch we are all players. It was just a clash. I am not moving while one of my players is in danger," Bolivian newspaper La Razon quoted the mayor as saying.

Doctors have advised Mr Morales to rest for several days to recover from bruising to his right leg.

Mr Morales, 50, is a keen football fan and no stranger to controversy on and off the pitch.

In 2007 he played a match at 6,000m (19,700 ft) above sea level in a protest against efforts to stop Bolivia playing its international fixtures at high altitude.

And in 2006 he suffered a broken nose in a clash with a goalkeeper.

Source: You Tube (Agencia EFE) Key Words: Evo Morales futbol agresiĆ³n



Many thanks to Augusto for creating the Quizlet.

I always thought that Evo Morales appeared *harmless. On the world stage, he is usually seen wearing a woolly jumper. This story paints a different picture.

*I need to eat less. /les/

Compare with the adjective *"harmless". /ĖˆhɑĖm.ləs/

The less in adjectives is pronounced  /ləs/

Look at these other adjectives that contain -less. Put them into the phoenmic chart and then listen to them in the talking dictionary.
  1. I felt /ĖˆjuĖ.sləs/. Everybody knew how to work a computer except me.
  2. His English is /Ėˆfɒlt.ləs/. I didn't hear any mistakes at all.
  3. The /ĖˆfÉŖə.ləs/ soldier won the medal for risking his life for his mates.
  4. The police were /ĖˆpaŹŠÉ™.ləs/ to prevent the armed robber getting away.
  5. The film was full of /ĖˆmaÉŖnd.ləs/ violence. I didn't watch even half of it.
  6. His homework was full of /Ėˆkeə.ləs/ mistakes. He can do much better.
  7. Teaching can be a /ĖˆĪøĆ¦Å‹.kləs/ job at times.
  8. She's a /ĖˆhəŹŠ.pləs/ cook. Her husband does all the cooking.

Comments

Natalia said…
I think the most famous comment in Spain in the last few years is the one said by the Spanish King to Hugo Chavez "Por quƩ no te callas". People even made tee-shirts with the sentence!
See you in a bit!
Graham said…
I don't know how the King got away with MAKING such a comment. He was applauded here in Spain and I don't remember any criticism.

The King should be the master of diplomacy at all times, even when under extreme provocation, and certainly in the public eye.

I wonder what would happen if I said "Why don't you just shut up" to a student who was talking a load of rubbish and didn't let others have their turn.

Even I, who regularly puts his foot in it, would phrase it in a more diplomatic way.
AndrĆ©s said…
It´s always the same... If you could see every political leader playing football, chess or even a silly game, you would realise how they actually are
Graham said…
I don't put all politicians into the same basket. I think there is the odd one or two who has a sense of fairness.

But I think politicians get away with things too often.

How Morales didn't get sent off, I will never know.