Police separate brawling coaches in Brazil
Reuters - Thursday 17 May 2012, 08:16
Two rival coaches came to
blows and had to be separated by riot police after both were
sent off in a Brazilian regional final.
Celso Teixeira, coach of Itabaiana, and his Confianca
counterpart Gilberto Pereira were dismissed after the referee
lost patience with them for constantly leaving their respective
technical areas on the touchline.
Both protested furiously as they left the touchline early in
the second half and trouble then erupted behind the goal where
the dressing entrances are situated.
Television pictures showed the pair lashing out at each
other before riot police and other players intervened.
"Celso insulted me with a number of unpleasant words and I
lost my head," Pereira told reporters after the match, the first
leg of the Sergipe state championship final.
Teixeira retorted: "It's absurd, I don't know what he was
complaining about. This is not the place for a fight but if he
wants to fight me off the pitch, we can set a day and a time."
Itabaiana won 3-1 and the second leg is on Sunday.