Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada punched an opponent in the face after being sent off and now faces serious disciplinary action. The incident occurred during a derby match in Spain's second tier between Real Zaragoza and Huesca.
Mass brawl erupts after red card
Tensions boiled over in stoppage time when Andrada received a second yellow card for pushing over a Huesca player. Clearly frustrated, he sought out Huesca captain Jorge Pulido and struck him with his right hand, sparking a huge brawl involving both sets of players and coaching staff. The subsequent melee saw Huesca goalkeeper Dani Jimenez and Zaragoza's Dani Tasende also shown red cards.
Andrada apologises for actions
The 35-year-old goalkeeper, on loan from Mexican club Monterrey, quickly owned his actions and apologised. He said: "The truth is I'm very, very sorry for what happened. 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 penalty area. I also want to apologise to Jorge Pulido because we are colleagues, and honestly, it was my fault, I lost focus at that moment, and well, I am here for whatever consequences the league may give me."
Club condemns incident
Real Zaragoza released a statement strongly condemning the incident and signalling their intent to take disciplinary action. The statement read: "We witnessed scenes unbecoming of this sport and which should never have occurred. These events do not represent the values of Real Zaragoza or its fans, who throughout its history have been characterized by sportsmanship, courage, and respect for the opponent. We are role models and examples for many fans, especially children, who cheer us on at every match and aspire to one day become one of their idols. That is why these regrettable images should never have been seen."
The 1-0 win for Huesca saw them leapfrog Zaragoza, who are now second from bottom and facing relegation to the third tier with only five games remaining. Andrada is expected to face punishment from both the league authorities and his club.
