Seems like even the yanks know 'pool are wankers

LONDON (AP) -- Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy added a new twist to the problem of soccer violence last week when he attacked a teammate.

Yes, a teammate.

The Wales forward allegedly hit John Arne Riise in the legs with a golf club while Liverpool was in Portugal at a training camp preparing for a Champions League match against defending champion FC Barcelona.

Bellamy now faces a fine of $155,000 and an uncertain future with the 18-time English league champions.

If teammates whacking each other with golf clubs after a night out isn't absurd enough, consider the reason for the fight -- they were arguing about a karaoke competition.

Karaoke!

The news of the fracas definitely wasn't music to the ears of George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks, Liverpool's new American owners.

And it shouldn't, because soccer -- and Liverpool -- has had an ugly enough past when it comes to violence.

At the 1985 European Cup final at the Heysel stadium in Brussels, 39 people were killed when Liverpool fans charged their Juventus counterparts and a stadium wall collapsed.

Hooliganism in soccer hasn't been confined to just Liverpool, of course.

On Feb. 2, 38-year-old policeman Filippo Raciti was killed by rioting fans after Catania played Palermo in the Italian league. That incident led to the suspension of league play for a week and security measures that have forced some teams to play in empty stadiums until standards are met.

There have been other soccer riots and fighting all over the world, but it's still worrying to read about a professional soccer player hitting another -- especially in the legs.

Luckily for Riise, he was not injured. If only the same could be said for the image of Liverpool and soccer.