Bloody Silly, Isn't It!

Aw, give me a break. The government of Chile hasn't anything better to do with itself than to lodge a formal complaint about the perceived treatment of some of its nationals visiting Canada for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup event in Toronto?

Hey, we're talking age-of-consent here; young men aged 18 to 21. Thugs-in-training. Teams competing from around the world, all of them determined to play the best soccer, the best game they possibly can manage, pride in their country of origin uppermost, certainty that they represent the most skilled and talented players and they'll bring home plaudits and wins.

There were some very good teams. They all competed. They qualified to go on, or they were disqualified by dint of losing the game. You win, or you don't win. One thing North American and specifically Canadian audiences quickly ascertained watching these much-ballyhooed but entertaining sports events.

Two things: Canada cannot complete, hasn't the talent; and South American teams tend to be 'poor losers'.

It is from among that contingent that abuse erupts, that physical abuse is visited upon their opponents. Very thin-skinned. Cannot manage the emotions related to disappointment. Engage in disruptive behaviour, in accusatory claims. Young men and runaway expectations. Young men and aggressive behaviour linked to too much testosterone, too little civil restraint.

Social acceptance and conventions differ, after all, from society to society. What is acceptable in one place may be a matter of great consternation in another. Competitive sports are like war games. One gets embroiled in a conflict, a competitive advantage or disadvantage. Egos become conflated, deflated. Life goes on, as it will.

Some would have it that competitive sports, most particularly between countries replace the actual belligerence of physical combat. And there is much to be said for this apprehension. Given the instances of riots post-games in many countries of the world. These things are taken more seriously than rational minds would have one believe.

But then, there's nothing rational about emotions run amok.

Take the accusations that Chile is levelling against the City of Toronto, specifically its police department, and by extension, Canada. Chilean players, badly disappointed at their loss in the game against rival Argentina, began a tussle that got out of hand and turned into a general melee, which the Toronto police were duty bound to apprehend. And they did.

In the process man-handling some of the more vigorously boisterous young disappointees.

Rather than accepting that a civilized society cannot accept violent behaviour from young men whose anger at their loss in a game of sports leads them to degenerate into thugs, Chile demands an apology from a "police state" gone amok.

Rather than behave responsibly and chastise its country's representatives for bringing shame upon their country, not by losing a game, but by demonstrating poor international relations, Chile chooses to huff itself into a tizzy.

These are not children who have been abused by representatives of an oppressive police state. These are young men lacking emotional restraint and good judgement.

Case closed.