By Tom Morgan
A referee karate kicked a Peruvian football coach who attempted to attack him with a plastic bottle.
Luis Alegre was still brandishing a red card as he aimed his right boot at the jaw of the man invading the pitch amid angry on-field protests.
Alegre’s martial arts-style reaction was sparked by apparent threats of violence as he appeared ready to send off a member of the Magdalena CEDEC bench.
The confrontation erupted in the 82nd minute of Sport Huaquillas’s Copa Peru match against Magdalena CEDEC in Ancash, north of the Peruvian capital Lima.
Alegre hit out as the man ran towards him from the away team’s bench with the plastic bottle in his hand.
Police were eventually forced to get involved as the referee and his linesmen were surrounded by angry players after the clash.
TV footage showed Alegre initially bringing out a red card after one of his linesmen pointed towards the Magdalena bench.
The referee managed to keep hold of the red card in his left hand as he kicked out at the onrushing coach.
The game was suspended after the incident. It was not immediately clear if the man kicked in the face had needed to be taken to hospital or whether he and the referee would face any disciplinary action.
The incident is not the first time Peruvian football has been sent reeling by a karate kick controversy.
Brazilian player Welington Smith was sent off in 2013 after kicking out at an opponent in a match between Alianza Universidad and Deportivo Municipal. Smith earned himself an instant red card and a 14-match suspension.
London Telegraph
