Competitive spirit gets the better of all of us from time to time.
But Estudiantes’ Copa Argentina game against lower-division Sport Pacifico showcased the worst act of gamesmanship we’ve ever come across.
The game was a classic David v Goliath.
Six-time league winners Estudiantes, boasting a squad full of internationals, against minnows Pacifico.
But Pacifico defender Federico Allende had a plan to deal with Columbia Under-20 international Juan Otero.
In an interview with Vorterix Radio, he revealed: “We knew that we had to play dirty against them and I kept piercing the Estudiantes strikers with a needle.
“We know that top division players don’t like contact, they don’t like if we waste time or if we play dirty. So that was the way to do.
“Football is like that. Football is for the clever. I completely nullified Otero. He must hate me.”
Pacifico pulled off a major upset by beating Estudiantes 3-2, despite Otero scoring, but Allende’s comments will likely overshadow the result.
Their president, Hector Moncado, told Clarin newspaper: “We are devastated. This incident has tarnished the team’s good work. I will expel him from the club.”
Forget Mayweather v McGregor, someone needs to get Diego Costa v Allende sorted. Now that we would pay to see.