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The professional wrestler Chris Jericho has been suspended from the WWE for 30 days after crumpling up a Brazilian flag and kicking it out of the ring before his match against "C.M. Punk" during a WWE event in Brazil Thursday night. ESPN reports that police almost arrested Jericho on the spot.
"Jericho has been suspended indefinitely due to an irresponsible act of denigrating the Brazilian flag at a WWE event in Sao Paulo on May 24," the WWE said in a statement. "The WWE has apologized to the citizens and the government of Brazil for this incident."
The Winnipeg Free Press reports that in Brazil, desecration of the flag is grounds for arrest and incarceration.
TMZ has obtained video of the incident where the crowd can be heard booing following Jericho's action:
TMZ reports that police gave Jericho an option -- apologize to the arena, or go to jail.
Jericho can be heard in the video apologizing to the crowd as the match was postponed, adding "I love Brazil." Jericho later tweeted:
Sources tell TMZ that the flag stunt was not planned or approved by WWE officials.
Wait.... planned?
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