Cuba vs Kazakhstan. Cuban fellow takes a 1 minute injury timeout because he cops a knee to his ankle while blocking the kick. Cuba is leading 3-2 at this point with about 22 seconds left on the clock for the match.
According to the rules, they receive a 10 second warning, and the player MUST stand up and raise his hands to indicate they are ready BEFORE the end of the 1 minute, e.g. once the 10 second warning is given, get the hell up. If you need more time, you ask for it when the ref indicates to continue the match. At least this is what the commentators said.
Well, Cuban guy gets up AT the 1 minute mark, and the Kazakhstan fellow claims the victory by technicality.... well, you think that is all well and good right? The Cuban has broken the rules because he didn't have his hands up and on his feet in time. His coach then comes out and disputes this with the referee, and so does the Cuban player, both to no avail. The referee then raises his hand to indicate the victory to the Kazakhstani player. Then it happens.
Something must have snapped on the Cuban's mind because he lets loose with a high kick to the referee's head and I think it actually connected. Like WTF dude?! Anyway, chaos erupts, and people come running in to restrain him and he even goes to pull his hand back for a punch to the head of one of the other score referees but decides not to complete the punch... Then he's off the court swearing no doubt, and spitting, and decidedly upset.... his coach too, and everyone is in shock. The commentators saying that it is totally against the spirit of the sport, and he will most likely get a life-time ban for his actions. It crosses back to the panel desk where the channel 7 commentator confirms that the Cuban AND his coach have both received life-time bans from international competition.
Damn...
Here is a picture I found from another blog:
EDIT: Here is a link to a newspaper article in the Sydney Morning Herald
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