Olympic Taekwondo Star Loses it – Kicks Referee in the Face, Attacks Officials

Former Olympic champion Angel Matos of Cuba faces a life ban after kicking a referee flush in the face during his taekwondo bronze medal match in Beijing.

Matos, who took gold in Sydney in 2000, was winning 3-2, with just over a minute left in the second round, when he fell to the mat after being hit by his opponent, Kazakhstan’s Arman Chilmanov.

Matos lay down, awaiting medical attention, but was then disqualified by referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden for taking too much injury time.

A furious Matos reacted by pushing a judge, then pushed and kicked Chelbat in the face.

It left the Swede with blood pouring from his lip while Matos spat on the floor and was then escorted out of the arena.

“We didn’t expect anything like what you have witnessed to occur,” said World Taekwondo Federation secretary general Yang Jin-suk.

“I am at a loss for words,” he told the Associated Press.

Matos’ coach, Leudis Gonzalez, is also in hot water for his angry reaction and claiming the Kazakhs had tried to fix the match.

“This is an insult to the Olympic vision, an insult to the spirit of taekwondo and, in my opinion, an insult to mankind,” Yang added.

Although the arena announcer said Matos and his coach were banned effective immediately, Yang said due process must be followed before officially banning the two.