Brazil's Lula slammed after joking about violence against women

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sparked controversy this week after making a joke about violence against women.

Then, reacting to a study which found such abuse often occurs after football matches, the 78-year-old leader joked that "If the guy is a Corinthians fan, it's OK," in reference to his favorite team.

The comments, broadcast live Tuesday, triggered widespread condemnation.

"Besides not being funny, Lula's comment normalizes a Brazilian tragedy that should worry everyone...