Serie A sport marred as Lecce coach head-butts Verona striker

Lecce coach Roberto D’Aversa appeared to head-butt Hellas Verona striker Thomas Henry following a heated conflict between two groups simply above the relegation zone in Serie A on Sunday.

Henry was arguing with Lecce defender Marin Pongracic after the ultimate whistle when D’Aversa went over to intervene and as a substitute ended up knocking Henry over with a head-butt.

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“Subsequent Saturday now we have one other huge match [against Salernitana] and I did not need my gamers to be banned,” D’Aversa stated. “So I went out to attempt to separate them from the opponents after which the incident with Henry occurred.

“I’ve already apologized to Verona’s administration,” D’Aversa stated. “As a coach and father of three children, I need to apologize for what occurred.”

Each D’Aversa and Henry had been despatched off.

Whereas replays appeared to indicate that it was certainly a head butt, D’Aversa later stated in a submit on Instagram that it was not.

“I used to be fallacious and I apologize,” D’Aversa stated. “I received carried away and misplaced lucidness, however to not the purpose of hitting one other individual … As soon as once more I apologize to Henry, to the Lecce, Verona and Italian followers, to the referees, to the 2 golf equipment, to my administration, my workers and my workforce.”

Michael Folorunsho scored early within the first half for Verona, who received 1-0 to maneuver as much as thirteenth place, two factors above the drop zone. Lecce dropped one level behind in fifteenth.

Lecce stated in an announcement they “firmly disapprove” what the coach did because it “goes towards the ideas and values of sports activities.”