A second-division football match in Spain ended in chaos after Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada punched SD Huesca defender Jorge Pulido during Sunday’s game on April 26.
Huesca goalkeeper Dani Jiménez was later sent off after also punching Andrada during the mass confrontation.
The incident happened in the closing stages of the match when Andrada pushed Pulido to the ground after the defender approached him. After the referee issued Andrada a second yellow card for the shove, the goalkeeper chased Pulido and struck him in the face with a right-hand punch, triggering a brawl involving players and staff from both sides.
‘I’m very sorry for what happened,’ he said. ‘It’s not a good image for the club, for the fans, and especially not for a professional like myself, so I’m very sorry.
‘Throughout my career, I’ve only had one red card, and that was for a handball outside the area. It was a critical situation where I lost my focus and reacted that way.
‘I’m very sorry, and I won’t do it again because I know that I’m a public figure, a professional with many years in my career, and I also want to apologize to Jorge Pulido because we’re colleagues.
‘Honestly, it was my own fault; I lost my focus at that moment, and well, I’m here for whatever consequences the league may give me, or if they want me to come and give explanations, I’m available for that.’
Real Zaragoza later released a statement saying it would review Andrada’s actions and apply any necessary disciplinary sanctions.
The club added that it condemns the behaviour and described the scenes as damaging to the sport, stressing that it does not reflect the values of Zaragoza or its supporters.
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