First XI  Brawl games  September 27, 2012 By Robin Hackett
After a referee had to abandon a Christian football match due to
a mass brawl, we pick out a selection of pitched battles from
the history books.  Argentina 2-0 Brazil (1946 South American
Championship)  Argentina's success is celebrated in the <i>El
Litoral</i> newspaper OtherArgentina's success is celebrated in
the El Litoral newspaper  In the final game of the 1946 South
American Championship, Brazil were trailing by a single point as
they headed to Buenos Aires in search of victory. What resulted
was one of the most extraordinary shows of violence ever
witnessed in an international football game.  The game came
three months after Ademir had broken Argentina defender Jose
Batagliero's leg in a 6-2 Copa Roca victory for Brazil. Ahead of
the South American Championship decider, the Argentinean press
had spoken out about the violent tendencies of the Brazilians
and whipped up nationalistic fervour. Although Argentina captain
Jose Salomon had handed f