Lecce sack boss after he head-butts opposition player

Lecce have fired coach Roberto D'Aversa after he headbutted an opposition player at the end of their defeat to Hellas Verona at the weekend, the Serie A club announced on Monday.

D'Aversa, 48, headbutted Verona striker Thomas Henry the day after their 1-0 home defeat on Sunday. The club released a statement later in the day condemning the incident and have now dismissed D'Aversa.

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“After the events that occurred at the end of the Lecce – Verona match, US Lecce announces that it has relieved coach Roberto D’Aversa of his duties,” the club said in a press release.

D'Aversa received a red card along with Henry. Subsequently, the coach, who joined Lecce in June 2023, apologized while claiming his players were continually provoked towards the end of the match.

Lecce have won five of their 28 league matches. They sit in 15th place with 25 points, one point above the relegation zone, while Verona overtook them with their victory to move up to 13th place with 26 points.