Chile Files Complaint

[jdobbin]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/07/20/soccer-melee.html

Chile's foreign minister filed a formal complaint with Ottawa over what he called "unjustified aggression" by Toronto police as they scuffled with Chilean team members after a FIFA Under-20 World Cup soccer match.

The incident took place late Thursday after the team lost 3-0 to Argentina in a semifinal match at BMO Field in Toronto. According to a Chilean official, police used pepper spray and Tasered some players in order to prevent them from reaching a large fence that separated them from hundreds of angry, chanting fans.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said the reports of police using pepper spray and batons were "serious facts."

It didn't take long for Chilean Canadian relations to take a downturn. The Chilean President came out unequivocally that it Chile's team that was the victim.

Harper looked like he had a hard time trying to come up with a reply that wouldn't either blame the Toronto Police or the Chilean team.

What a mess. Just goes to show what the unexpected can do to foreign relations.

[seabee]

The law of unintended consequences is second only to the law of gravity.

[geoffrey]

If the police didn't act decisively, the outcome would have been far worse. For once, Ontario cops upheld the law and maintained the best semblance of peace. It's about time.

[mikedavid00]

If the police didn't act decisively, the outcome would have been far worse. For once, Ontario cops upheld the law and maintained the best semblance of peace. It's about time.

Everyone was calling up the radio station trying to make this into a culture issue.

And wow you should have seen the CBC. They just outright made it into a pro-chile, culture issue.

They interviewed 2 people. One from the Chile team, and another 'Chillian-Canadian' that was there. Both saying how this is a 'black mark' on Canada infrton of the world.

Like anyone cares about those trouble making punks.

What happens when Canadians miss behave in Mexico as one call said. So they shouldn't even go there.

[capricorn]

I'm with the cops. Good on them. I don't want that kind of lunatic soccer stuff coming here. Too, how do we know there won't be retribution against Canadian players when they play abroad? Talk about spoiling a good thing.

[Harry Nads]

What happens when Canadians miss behave in Mexico as one call said. So they shouldn't even go there.

How dare you? I was with you up until you brought up that vile question. First of all, Mexico is a dangerous country and Canadians should not travel there until further notice. Secondly, you have no right giving any credibility to a quote that implies Canadians who have been injured or worse in Mexico were misbehaving. Shame on you.

[guyser]

. First of all, Mexico is a dangerous country and Canadians should not travel there until further notice.

Why not travel to Mexico? Hundreds of thousands do and nothing happens to them.

[Argus]

Chile's foreign minister filed a formal complaint with Ottawa over what he called "unjustified aggression" by Toronto police as they scuffled with Chilean team members after a FIFA Under-20 World Cup soccer match.

I can understand how some angry, hot-headed young men can get into trouble for punching out their bus. What I don't understand is how supposed adults, like their president and government, can believe the kind of trash these kids are spouting as excuses. According to them they were just signing autographs when the police attacked them for no reason. Now forgive me but I find that more than a little hard to believe. I recall one of them saying, to paraphrase "I was electrocuted, and when I woke up ten policemen were beating me and throwing acid at me". Idiotic. But as I said, hotheaded young men I can understand. Their gobernment is another thing.

I dunno. There's a reason why Chile is a third world nation.

[NovaScotian]

Chile's foreign minister filed a formal complaint with Ottawa over what he called "unjustified aggression" by Toronto police as they scuffled with Chilean team members after a FIFA Under-20 World Cup soccer match.

I can understand how some angry, hot-headed young men can get into trouble for punching out their bus. What I don't understand is how supposed adults, like their president and government, can believe the kind of trash these kids are spouting as excuses. According to them they were just signing autographs when the police attacked them for no reason. Now forgive me but I find that more than a little hard to believe. I recall one of them saying, to paraphrase "I was electrocuted, and when I woke up ten policemen were beating me and throwing acid at me". Idiotic. But as I said, hotheaded young men I can understand. Their gobernment is another thing.

I dunno. There's a reason why Chile is a third world nation.

I agree with you, it doesn't add up. They are teenagers and young adults that got out of control..which could have ended up a lot worse if this violence had spread.

BUT, Chile is hardly a third world nation.