COPA AMERICA A HISTORY OF MADNESS
ROAD WARRIOR LOSES CONTROL
As one of the star turns for host nation Chile, all eyes were on tenacious midfielder Arturo Vidal in the summer of 2015. ‘The Warrior’ responded to the intense scrutiny by scoring three goals in his team’s first two group matches against Ecuador and Mexico, then downing a couple of beers and driving his Ferrari off the road. Fortunately he only obtained minor injuries, and no one else was hurt. Vidal was banned from driving for two years but allowed to continue playing in the competition. There was no hangover, as the then-Juventus man helped his side secure their first ever Copa crown, winning himself a place in the team of the tournament to boot.
START AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON
The groundwork for Copa America madness was laid early, at its 1916 debut in Buenos Aires (the official capital of football lunacy). The final game between Argentina and Uruguay at the Estadio GEBA had to be abandoned after five minutes due to overcrowding, which prompted a riot with furious fans siphoning petrol from cars outside the ground and setting wooden stands ablaze.
The showpiece was switched to the nearby Estadio Racing Club and replayed the following day, a goalless draw handing Uruguay the title.
VICTORY IS THE BEST REVENGE
As the oldest international continental football tournament anywhere, the Copa America was pioneering. Alas, it was also ahead of the curve in terms of unseemly racism.
The 1916 curtain-raiser between Uruguay and Chile was notable for being the first official
