Argentine footballer boasts of poking opponent with NEEDLE during Cup match upset
The video will start in 8 Cancel
Get football updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
An Argentine footballer faces being expelled from his club after he boasted of poking an opponent with a NEEDLE during a match.
Federico Allende, a defender with lower league side Pacífico de General Alvear, claimed he kept two needles hidden in his shinpads.
Speaking on a local radio station, Allende claimed he poked Columbian striker Juan Otero several times because "you need to play dirty".
His side, from the city of Mendoza, had just pulled off a cup upset by beating top division side Estudiantes 3-2.
Allende was invited to speak on the radio about his triumph, but when asked how it was achieved he made a shock confession.
"I had to resort to the great Bilardo," he said.
(Photo: REUTERS)
This was a reference to Carlos Salvador Bilardo, the legendary Argentine manager who won the World Cup with Maradona in 1986.
The hosts jokingly asked if he meant 'the water bottle'.
Brazilian defender Branco famously accused Bilardo's bench of having handed him a water bottle laced with a drug during their second round match in the 1990 World Cup.
But Allende said: "No, not the bottle. Needles."
Bilardo was also accused of having used needles to poke an opponent when he was a player in the 1960s.
When the radio hosts reacted with incredulity, Allende continued: "What do you expect me to do?
"Football is for the clever.
"We knew we had to make the game dirty, and I was poking the Estudiantes forwards with needles.
"We knew these players from the First division don't like it rough, when you take your time, when you play dirty.
"We saw that was how it was, football is like this."
(Photo: Getty Images)
"The poor guy must have hated me."
For his part, Otero later confirmed he had been poked with a needle several times and complained to the referee.
"Four times he did it," Otero said.
"I changed position because he poked me at every stoppage.
"I told the referee but he didn't believe me.
"I told the linesman as well and he just smiled.
"He poked me in the back."
In response, the President of Pacífico said he would throw Allende out of his club.
Héctor Moncada said he was "saddened" by Allende's remarks which had "tarnished the team's work."
"If it's up to me, he's out of the club," said Mr Moncada.
"The coach agrees. We will have to see because it depends on the other directors too."
The revelation sparked a furore in the Argentine media.
Allende later apologised and said he had been joking.