Hooligans Strip Brazilian Soccer Player Mid Match

((HT: FoxSports))

Hooliganism is a world-wide activity in football leagues and we now, the HQ thinks, have the next step in the process...

It usually involves smoke, fire, chanting, protesting, throwing things, and stuff like that...

But, in the 4th level of the country's soccer ladder, we now have stripping an athlete in the middle of a game...

Here's the report from the news down there (and, yes, it's in Portuguese), but the visual is still impactful

FIFA's Next Problem: Concussions

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

As we all know, Germany needed extra time to beat Argentina in the final in Rio on Sunday.

But short of the political irresponsibility that the governing body is ignoring in picking their home nations, the new issue that the folks are not talking about when they need to discuss it is the concussions problem.

14 minutes after being taken off the pitch and being examined by his own physios, German defender Christoph Kramer collapsed on the turf and had to be stretchered off in the final against Argentina.

Kramer joined Mascherano, Zabaleta, and Pereira in playing after getting concussed- and there are those trumpeting the idea that this kind of machismo has to stop...

And quick...

Here's the discussion in "Last Call" that includes Taylor Twellman- whose career was cut short by multiple concussions.

The Other Semi Is Set In Brazil

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

And it was one side that showed its prowess and another who escaped from Cinderella...

In the first game of the day Argentina got an early strike and rode it to a 1-0 win over a spirited Belgium side. And, with everyone looking at Lionel Messi as the man to keep in check, it was Higuain and the other nine to pick up the slack


The nightcap was Costa Rica and the Netherlands. Everyone was looking for the Oranje to steamroll the upstart of the final 8, but the Ticos made them earn it- going scoreless through 90 and extra time- forcing the Dutch to penalty kicks. Netherlands head coach Louis Van Gaal made an interesting switch leading to the kicks, swapping out goaltenders- bringing in Newcastle's Tim Krul for the final act.

The gamble worked


News on Neymar from the Brazilian physicians have him back being active in 40-45 days- certainly good news for the sport as FIFA will examine the knee to the back that caused the injury.

World Cup: Messi Makes Sure Argentina Takes Down Nigeria

Yes, you can argue about a handful of soccer players who depending on the game and day can be christened, "The Greatest in the World".

But Lionel Messi of Argentina is proving it on the field.

Messi had 2 goals to lead Argentina to a 3-2 win over Nigeria Tuesday afternoon, propelling his team to a Group F win.

The Argentinians move on to the next round and Messi leads all players with 4 goals.

However, it must be added that the game was a 2-2 draw until Marcos Rojo scored midway through the 2nd period in what proved to be the game-winner.

And we should add the Nigerians will be moving on as well, courtesy of an Iran loss to Bosnia-Hersogovenia.

ESPN.com provides the highlights:

Momma, There Goes That Man Again... Messi For The Win

((HT: ESPN/FIFA/gfutbol32's Vine))

Iran held with the Argentinians for 90-plus minutes, for what would have been their greatest moment ever in the national sport, but it took (naturally) another moment from one of the best in the world for the three points.

See just how ridiculous the game-winner was


And on their way to the knockout stage they go...

Here's the long version

Soccer Player Fired For Dog Toss

((HT: Sportsnet/Everyday News))

Okay... for the record... and the asides are intentional...

There is no amount of anger that can describe how pissed we can be when something comes across the HQ's desk having to do with the mistreatment of kids, old people, and animals...
(and we're just getting started...)

This happened in a lower-level Argentinian soccer match between Bella Vista and San Juan...
And, so you know, it's not pretty...
It's not NSFW, it's just disgusting...


The referee flashed a red card to Jose Gimenez- and everyone in the building should have had a free shot at him...
(and that should be the beginning...)

Gimenez told the local newspaper, Gazeta de Tucuman, that he later felt ashamed by what he did and said he had been fired.
(thankfully...)

Apparently, he told his own son “why I had choked a doggie on TV.”
(because he's an idiot...)

He also said in the interview that he did what he did because no one else was doing something to the dog on the pitch...
(and the stupidity continues...)

The HQ only hopes that there is a special place in hell for people like Gimenez and that the canines of Argentina gets some kind of revenge... the feeling in our stomach will not go away for a long time...
(and the revenge can't happen soon enough...)