Wow. Perhaps violence is an inherent part of soccer....and religion...

In one of the more bizarre stories I've seen in recent days, a soccer game between priests in Vatican City was marred by violence on the pitch. Priests. At the Vatican.

A weekend match between Brazilian students at Pontifical Gregorian University and a Mexican team of trainee priests from Mater Ecclesiae Seminary reached a level of "chippy" play that saw one player leave the field in an ambulance. At the Vatican. In a game between priests.

The friendly match saw the officials using "blue cards" an experimental rule that punishes minor penalties in a manner similar to hockey, where a player sits out for a set period of time and the team has to play with a disadvantage for that time, but the player can return.

The official still ended up issuing yellow cards for major penalties. I think I can stand vindicated in my claim last year that blue cards would only increase violent play in the sport, not discourage it. I mean, for Christ's sake (no pun intended), here there are men of the cloth going at each others' throats.

Despite the roughhousin', The Mexican team, backed by a goalie seriously named "Jesus" won 6-0. Hallelujah.