Truth to be told: “I accept the apology, I forgive you”, Chakir Chelbat on Matos aggression
Swedish referee Chakir Chelbat responds to Cuban Taekwondo athlete Ángel Valodia Matos’ claims of corruption following their controversial encounter at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Swedish referee Chakir Chelbat responds to Cuban Taekwondo athlete Ángel Valodia Matos’ claims of corruption following their controversial encounter at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In a recent interview with «El Fauno», Swedish referee Chakir Chelbat provided his account of the infamous incident during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Cuban Taekwondo athlete Ángel Valodia Matos assaulted him after being disqualified. This altercation led to lifetime bans for both Matos and his coach, Leudis González, from all international Taekwondo competitions.
Unveiling the Truth: Ángel Matos Exposes Corruption in Olympic Taekwondo
Chelbat, who began his Olympic journey as an official for the Swedish Taekwondo Federation at the 2000 Sydney Games and later served as a referee in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, reflected on the 2008 incident. He described it as «a very sad, very traumatic moment» and emphasized that he was merely enforcing the rules as they stood at the time. «My performance was reviewed afterward, and everyone agreed that everything was within the regulations,» Chelbat stated.
Addressing Matos’ recent allegations that he accepted bribes to influence the match’s outcome, Chelbat firmly denied the accusations. «For Matos to say I took money is very wrong,» he remarked, suggesting that such claims might be an attempt to justify his actions in Cuba. Chelbat elaborated on the Olympic protocol, noting that referees are assigned to matches just 10 to 15 minutes before they begin and are kept separate from athletes and coaches, making any form of collusion impossible.
Despite the severity of the incident, Chelbat expressed no ill will toward Matos. «My parents taught me not to harbor malice and to always forgive, and that’s why I forgive him,» he said. However, he found the bribery accusations perplexing, labeling them as «impossible.»
During the interview, Chelbat thanked «El Fauno» for allowing him to share his side of the story, especially now that he holds no official position within World Taekwondo. He also expressed gratitude to World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue and European Taekwondo Union President Sakis Pragalos for their unwavering support. Chelbat revealed that he is working on a memoir detailing his Taekwondo career, dedicating an entire chapter to the incident with Matos. The book is set to be published in four languages: English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.
Chelbat’s account sheds light on an episode that significantly impacted Olympic Taekwondo history, underscoring the importance of integrity and respect in sports.
For those interested in delving deeper into Chakir Chelbat’s perspective, the full two-hour interview is available here:
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