Comment on "Matadors at each other’s throats"

Comment on the article in the Sunday Times, 7 March 2009

It is hardly surprising to see the integrity of bullfighters questioned by accusations of favouritism and jealousy (Matthew Campbell, Matadors at each other’s throats, Sunday Times 8 March 2009). Matadors are in fact not “used to adulation for confronting death in the ring”. On the contrary, there is no danger of death or serious injury for a matador because the “fight” is seriously rigged. The bull’s horns are regularly shaved making it lose its sense of orientation. Once in the arena lances are driven into the bull’s back and neck muscles, which weaken it further and prevent it being able to raise its head. Men on foot then stab harpoons into its back. This all happens before the matador takes action. To put it bluntly, bullfighting is as dangerous to the matador as is crown green bowls to the player.