Brazilian handball match abandoned after brawl

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazilian women handball players threw punches and
pulled each other's hair in a brawl that forced a national championship
semifinal to be abandoned.

Television pictures showed lumps of hair on the court after the
match between Metodista and Guarulhos, played Thursday night in Sao
Bernardo on the outskirts of Sao Paulo.

Trouble broke out for the
first time with five minutes left when two players began arguing after
a foul. Others joined in and a fight broke out but play eventually
resumed with six players sent to the sin bin.

A more serious
brawl erupted in the last minute when a Guarulhos player pulled an
opponent's hair, pushed her in the back and then slapped her in the
face.

The other player replied with a punch in the face,
initiating another brawl that involved players, substitutes and
officials, who traded kicks and punches.

The referees abandoned the match because of a lack of security.

Manoel
Luiz de Oliveira, president of the Brazilian Handball Confederation,
said video evidence would be used to punish players and suspensions
could include the national team.