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

Lecce coach Roberto D'Aversa appeared to headbutt Hellas Verona striker Thomas Henry following a heated clash between two teams just above the relegation zone in Serie A Sunday.

Henry was arguing with Lecce defender Marin Pongracic after the final whistle when D'Aversa came to intervene and ended up knocking Henry down with a header.

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“Next Saturday we have another big game [against Salernitana] and I didn't want my players to get banned,” D'Aversa said. “So I went out to try to separate them from my opponents, and then the incident with Henry happened.

“I have already apologized to the Verona management,” D’Aversa added. “As a coach and father of three children, I want to apologize for what happened.”

D'Aversa and Henry were expelled.

While replays appeared to show that it was indeed a spur of the moment, D'Aversa later said in an Instagram post that that was not the case.

“I was wrong and I apologize,” D’Aversa said. “I got carried away and lost all lucidity, but not to the point of hitting anyone else… Once again, I apologize to Henry, to the supporters of Lecce, Verona and Italians, with the referees, with the two clubs, with my management, my staff and my team.”

Michael Folorunsho scored early in the first half for Verona, who won 1-0 to move up to 13th, two points above the drop zone. Lecce lost a point in 15th position.

Lecce said in a statement that they “strongly disapprove” of what the coach did because it “goes against the principles and values ​​of sport.”