Referee Jose Manuel Barro Escandón made history at the weekend by sending off 19 players in a regional first division match between Recreativo Linense and Saladillo de Algeciras.
Recreativo were winning 1-0 when one of their players was red-carded in the 54th minute. A fight broke out, which then escalated into a brawl involving several members of the crowd. The match was swiftly abandoned by the referee, who proceeded to show straight red cards to nine players from each side in the dressing rooms, the most puzzling part of which is the question of who, exactly, managed to escape getting a red, and whether they can still look their team-mates in the eye on the training pitch.
Speaking to Spanish radio after the game, the Recreativo coach, Sebastián Naranjo, suggested it might have all been rather overblown in any case. "The players who intervened, and even the spectators, were just trying to see that things didn't get worse," he said. "I don't know what happened to the guy ... The referee has set a new record."
Perhaps so, in terms of the sheer volume of expulsions, but Escandón is certainly not the first to oversee an outbreak of western-style every-man-for-himself fisticuffs. One of the most infamous involved the Jamaican national team during a friendly against Mexican club Toros Neza in Mexico City in 1997. A local player reacted violently to being fouled: cue 22-man tear-up, rapidly joined by coaching staff and members of the Mexican crowd. Jamaica diplomatically left the field. Only to return, in less conciliatory mood, armed with bricks.
On a more exalted stage, the Battle of Santiago, is the popular name for the 1962 World Cup group match between hosts Chile and Italy. Enraged by less than flattering descriptions of their home country by Italian journalists, the Chileans kicked off firmly of the opinion that revenge was a dish best served hot.
The first foul was committed after 13 seconds. Italy's Giorgio Ferrini was sent off in the 12th minute (he eventually had to be dragged off by policemen). Italy's Mario David was sent off for kicking Leonel Sanchez in the head. Humberto Maschio had his nose broken by a Chilean fist. Chile eventually won 2-0, finishing with 11 men against nine. And David Coleman saw it all. Remember: what you're about to see is the most stupid, appalling, disgraceful and disgusting exhibition of football, possibly in the history of the game.
Right at the other end of the scale, even beach football can go wrong. Here Uruguay have just come from behind to beat Argentina 2-1. I repeat: at beach football.
