Lecce sacked manager Roberto D’Aversa on Monday following the manager allegedly throwing a headbutt toward Verona forward Thomas Henry. Verona picked up a 1-0 win at Lecce courtesy of a goal from Michael Folorunsho in the first half. However, the drama transpired after the game. D’Aversa approached Henry, who picked up a red card deep into second-half stoppage time. Cameras on the field captured D’Aversa headbutting Henry in the face, and Henry crumpled to the floor.
In his postgame media time, D’Aversa apologized for his actions. Yet, he says the contact between him and Henry was not forceful and intentional. Instead, it was just contact between two people.
“I would like to apologize to everyone and at the same time reconstruct the sad and unpleasant episode that saw me as a negative protagonist at the end of Lecce-Verona,” D’Aversa said. “I came into contact head-to-head with Henry, but I did not hit the Veronese player with a headbutt, nor did I receive one from him. It was a physical contact, a bad example, an unsportsmanlike image resulting from great tension and adrenaline which, however, must not and do not want to be my excuses or mitigating factors.”
Immediately after the game, Lecce condemned the actions of its manager. Lecce said it was a tense situation after the narrow game. However, the actions of the manager have no place in the sport. Then, on Monday, Lecce released another statement that terminated the status of D’Aversa as the manager of the club. Lecce directly identified the actions that happened in the postgame as the reason for relieving D’Aversa of his duties.
“After the events that occurred at the end of the Lecce – Verona match, U.S. Lecce announces that it has relieved coach D’Aversa of his duties,” .
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Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/serie-a-club-sacks-manager-after-headbutting-opposing-player
Author : Kyle Fansler
Publish date : 2024-03-11 20:57:11
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