Imagine if this happened in Europe.....

[boltonboris]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 045170.stm

Stoke City striker Mamady Sidibe is receiving treatment at the Britannia Stadium after being attacked when representing Mali on Friday.
Sidibe and Sevilla striker Fredi Kanoute were both attacked by Togo fans after Mali won 2-0 in Lome to qualify for the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

"Our concerns are with Mama and we hope it is not too serious," said Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes.

Mali coach Jean-Francois Jodar told L'Equipe: "There was blood everywhere."

He added: "Mamady took a blow, doubtless with a weapon, which caused bruising to his arm.

"Frederic was hit with a belt. It was like a battlefield."

Scholes said Stoke were concerned that one of their players could be subjected to such an attack.

"Although we do not yet have full information on what took place in Togo, everyone will agree that no-one wants to see this type of thing happening," he said.

"Our responsibility is to protect our club and its players and we will be making representations to the appropriate authorities."

[Backgammon]

If it happened in europe, the nation would play their next significant amount of games behind closed doors, or potentially be banned from their next tournament.

Togo should be at least forced to play the qualifying rounds for the next world cup/african nations behind closed doors.

[boltonboris]

If it happened in europe, the nation would play their next significant amount of games behind closed doors, or potentially be banned from their next tournament.

Togo should be at least forced to play the qualifying rounds for the next world cup/african nations behind closed doors.

If there's any justice - Not that there will be in continent apparantly rife in match fixing, bungs and pay-offs (football wise - and maybe other) They'll be banned from the next tournament they can possibly participate in

[Worthy4England]

If it happened in europe, the nation would play their next significant amount of games behind closed doors, or potentially be banned from their next tournament.

Togo should be at least forced to play the qualifying rounds for the next world cup/african nations behind closed doors.

If there's any justice - Not that there will be in continent apparantly rife in match fixing, bungs and pay-offs (football wise - and maybe other) They'll be banned from the next tournament they can possibly participate in

No seen any of that on this Continent have we?

[boltonboris]

But I've never heard of two players exchanging envelopes of cash at the coin toss in Europe have you?

[Worthy4England]

But I've never heard of two players exchanging envelopes of cash at the coin toss in Europe have you?

No - but they've probably learn from the likes of what went on at Juve, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio...

Not that we're squeaky clean...I seem to remember that Grobbelaar - although cleared along with Segers and Fashanu, still lost his libel action against the Stun with the judge effectively saying he was a lying, cheating bastage...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

But I've never heard of two players exchanging envelopes of cash at the coin toss in Europe have you?

No - but they've probably learn from the likes of what went on at Juve, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio...

Not that we're squeaky clean...I seem to remember that Grobbelaar - although cleared along with Segers and Fashanu, still lost his libel action against the Stun with the judge effectively saying he was a lying, cheating bastage...

If I recall correctly - and I may not - he actually won, but got something like a quid in damages and had to pay The Sun's legal bill (effectively financially losing a hell of a lot of loot). I'll check.

EDIT Won £85k in libel against The Sun in 1999, but the Court of Appeal ruled this a miscarriage of justice. It was the House of Lords who reinstated the original verdict but cut his damages to £1 and ordered him to pay the Currant Bun's half-mill legal costs. He couldn't, and was declared bankrupt.

[Worthy4England]

But I've never heard of two players exchanging envelopes of cash at the coin toss in Europe have you?

No - but they've probably learn from the likes of what went on at Juve, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio...

Not that we're squeaky clean...I seem to remember that Grobbelaar - although cleared along with Segers and Fashanu, still lost his libel action against the Stun with the judge effectively saying he was a lying, cheating bastage...

If I recall correctly - and I may not - he actually won, but got something like a quid in damages and had to pay The Sun's legal bill (effectively financially losing a hell of a lot of loot). I'll check.

EDIT Won £85k in libel against The Sun in 1999, but the Court of Appeal ruled this a miscarriage of justice. It was the House of Lords who reinstated the original verdict but cut his damages to £1 and ordered him to pay the Currant Bun's half-mill legal costs. He couldn't, and was declared bankrupt.

Aye - apols

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

But I've never heard of two players exchanging envelopes of cash at the coin toss in Europe have you?

No - but they've probably learn from the likes of what went on at Juve, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio...

Not that we're squeaky clean...I seem to remember that Grobbelaar - although cleared along with Segers and Fashanu, still lost his libel action against the Stun with the judge effectively saying he was a lying, cheating bastage...

If I recall correctly - and I may not - he actually won, but got something like a quid in damages and had to pay The Sun's legal bill (effectively financially losing a hell of a lot of loot). I'll check.

EDIT Won £85k in libel against The Sun in 1999, but the Court of Appeal ruled this a miscarriage of justice. It was the House of Lords who reinstated the original verdict but cut his damages to £1 and ordered him to pay the Currant Bun's half-mill legal costs. He couldn't, and was declared bankrupt.

Aye - apols

None needed, W4E. Except perhaps in the courts.

[Muse]

Bump.
Here is what Sidibe has said about it.

Mamady Sidibe has revealed that he feared for his life after being attacked by Togo fans following Mali's 2-0 African Nations Cup qualifying victory.

The Stoke City forward was amongst several Mali players who needed treatment after riots broke out at the Kegue Stadium in Togo.

A pitch invasion at the end of the game led to Sidibe being punched to the ground, knocking him unconscious.

When he regained consciousness he was pushed through a window, severing veins in his arm.

"I thought I was going to die," he told The Mail on Sunday.

"I was sitting in an ambulance outside the stadium, feeling dizzy because I was losing so much blood.

"The police moved me into an army ambulance but the crowd destroyed that as well. They took me back inside the stadium for my safety. It was two hours before I could get help.

"They told me I had been cut millimetres from my artery. I was that close to dying. It was a miracle nobody was killed."

The African Nations Cup begins in January but Sidibe is undecided as to whether he will take part.

He said: "When I got back here and hugged my wife and baby son, it was so emotional. I feel lucky to have survived.

"I have to think about whether I will play for my country again. I go to Africa to play football, not to put my life at risk.

"I want to get fit again and we will see. African fans don't understand losing. But I have never seen them come on to the pitch and beat the players."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 62,00.html

Sounds terrible and very lucky nobody was seriously hurt.