http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYOJX1G2Mf8
Here at balls.ie, there are those of us who nurse a longstanding dream of seeing a compromised rules game incorporating hurling and rugby (see here) but in Italy there exists a sport which is almost as crazy and as perfect.
Calcio Fiorentino was played by aristocrats (including, on occasion, the Pope, most notably Clement) during the sixteenth century. It was banned by the 17th century's equivalent of the health and safety lobby but, thankfully, it was resurrected in Florence during the glorious year of 1930 (the same year as the World Cup was founded).
It is played on the 3rd week of June every year. Each Italian city provides a team.
The object of the game is to force the ball into your opponent's goal (without wanting to sound too much like an Israeli politician) by any means necessary. The goal stretches the entire length of the end-line.
In the best traditions of a post-Ger Loughnane/Brian Cody inter-county hurling training session, the referee swallows his whistle at the outset.
Kicking, punching, head-butting, choking are all permitted. The ref will only step in if someone is remorselessly beating someone into ground.
They are unafraid of the pitch being too congested as there are 27 men on each side.
The winners of the 2014 event
[Deadspin}
