England are absolutely the kings of previous, esoteric sports activities no person outdoors of regional areas have heard about — and the Atherstone Ball Game isn’t any exception. Teams from Leicestershire and Warwickshire compete each Shrove Tuesday to wrestle over an enormous ball, and this yr it devolved into insanity.
Brutal finish to Atherstone Ball Game 2023. The final half an hour of the Pancake Day custom noticed punches thrown & a betting store broken as groups battled to achieve management of an outsized ball. pic.twitter.com/LPMtAUaA1f
— Urban Pictures (@Urban_Pictures) February 21, 2023
Shoving and the occasional torn shirt are nothing new for the sport, however an enormous brawl outdoors a bookie undoubtedly is. It occurred shortly earlier than the 5 p.m. full time whistle, and featured dozens of gamers on each side tearing at one another and punching one another in pursuit of the ball.
This bizarre recreation dates again 1199, when a bag of gold was used as each the ball and prize between the villages. Now groups assemble on each side on Shrove Tuesday to maintain the custom alive in multi-hour insanity the place every workforce is attempting to maintain maintain of the ball till the ultimate whistle. That’s actually the one rule: Hold on for expensive life.
It’s been known as the hardest sport on the planet, and with scenes like this you’ll be able to see why. It ought to be famous that nothing is going on legally on account of the sport — as a result of all that is accepted as a part of the competition.