Final answer:
The killing of the two individuals during a pastime that resembles a soccer match was part of a historical religious tradition where the bloodshed during the game and sometimes human sacrifices were believed to honor deities or spirits.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the soccer match you are referring to, which sounds like the Mesoamerican ballgame, the two people killed as part of the "halftime show" can be explained through the lens of historical religious practices and traditions. The game itself had religious connotations, often being linked to the creation myths of civilizations like the Maya. According to these myths, notable figures such as the twin brothers Hun Hunaphu and Xbalanque would play the game with dire consequences, including decapitation, which was reflected in iconography found on the walls of ball courts. Ordinary games would sometimes echo this mythology, and there were occasions were ceremonial games included acts of bloodletting and human sacrifices. The brutal and fatal nature of these festivities was meant to honor the gods or appease the spirits of the deceased.