Sports

Former gold medalist shoves judge and kicks referee in the face after routine disqualification in Beijing

by Hazel | August 23, 2008 at 08:03 pm

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When Cuban taekwondo competitor Angel Matos was disqualified from the broze-medal match he reacted with a swift kick to the face of a referee prompting the World Taekwondo Federation to call for a life-time ban for the one time gold medalist.

"We didn't expect anything like what you have witnessed to occur," said WTF secretary general Yang Jin-suk. "I am at a loss for words." Yang also recommended Matos' coach be banned.

Matos, who won a gold medal in taekwondo in 2000, is no stranger to the Olympic rules and spectators were stunned by his reaction to the routine disqualification. Matos was ahead 3-2 in his bout with Kazakhstan's Arman Chilmanov when he was struck down with only 1:02 left in the second round. He failed to get back on his feet within the required 60 seconds and was disqualified.

Incensed by the call Matos pushed the presiding judge, kicked Swedish referee Chakir Chelbat in the face splitting his lip, then spat on the floor, before security pulled him away. Matos' coach Leudis Gonzalezwas unapologetic and retaliated with accusations of corruption and bribery.

"He was too strict," Leudis Gonzalez said, referring to the decision to disqualify Matos. Afterward, he charged the match was fixed, accusing the Kazakhs of offering him money.

Matos defeated Italy's Leonardo Basile and China's Liu Xiaobo in earlier rounds, but lost to South Korean Cha Dong-min in the semis landing him in the bronze-medal match with Chilmanov. When asked how he felt about the call Chilmanov spoke candidly.

"To me it was obvious he was unable to continue," Chilmanov said. "His toe on his left foot was broken."

But Chilmanov added: "Rules are rules. I'm happy with my medal."

Matos' outburst marked the end of the four day taekwondo competition; a series that has been plagued by protests over the quality of the judging.

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