Bolivian president Evo Morales has been caught on camera apparently kneeing an opponent in the groin during a “friendly” football match between political rivals.
Only five minutes into the game, events took a turn for the worse when the Bolivian leader (50) was fouled by an opposition player, Daniel Gustavo Cartagena, while playing against a team led by the mayor of the capital, La Paz.
In apparent retaliation, Mr Morales is then seen on video kneeing the groin area of Mr Cartagena, who falls to the ground. Mr Morales was one of number of players who argued with the referee following the incident.
After being treated for an injury, the president, who received no card, played on and scored a goal in the match, which ended 4-4. However, four players were sent off during the game, including Mr Cartagena and one of the president's bodyguards.
"I passed the ball and, suddenly, I got hit, and not for the first time," the president said later.
According to reports, the police attempted to arrested the opposition player when the game ended but were prevented from doing so by La Paz mayor Luis Revilla.
The game, between Mr Morales's governing Movement towards Socialism party against the opposition Movement Without Fear led by Mr Revilla was held to inaugurate a new football field in La Paz.