Castro defends athlete who kicked judge in face

FIDEL CASTRO yesterday defended the Cuban taekwondo athlete who kicked a judge in the face at the Beijing Olympics, saying Angel Matos was rightfully indignant over his disqualification from the bronze-medal match.

Taekwondo officials want Matos and his coach banned for life from the sport. But Castro expressed “our total solidarity” for Matos and his coach Leudis Gonzalez. He also said, without providing details, that the coach had been offered a bribe.

Matos “was predisposed and indignant,” after being unjustly disqualified, Castro wrote. “He couldn’t contain himself.”