Brazilian Soccer Coach Pulls A Woody Hayes

Dashiell Bennett|published: Tue 14th April, 10:30 2009

Pedro Santilli, the coach of a third-division Brazilian soccer team, apparently did not like what he was seeing on the field, so he took matters into his own hands. Well, fists really.

Santilli's team was losing 1-0 on Sunday when he ran out on to the field to retrieve a loose ball, but as he returned to the sideline he decided to lower his shoulder into a player for the opposing team for no reason whatsoever. (Because he was brushed on the shoulder by a 60-year-old man, the player naturally made it look like he'd been shot in the kneecaps.) After he was ejected for being a lunatic, Santilli went back on to the field to politely discuss the matter with the referee—before punching the official in the face. I think he got his point across.

Gee, with rock-solid leadership like that, it's hard to believe his team was relegated after the game.

Soccer coach punches referee after ejection [AP]