A footballer threw punches at a teammate in an unexpected burst of anger that saw him having to be restrained by another player.
The incident occurred in a LaLiga match between Real Valladolid and Getafe on Sunday and saw Valladolid vice-captain Luis Perez punch Juan Miguel Latasa on the substitutes bench – The latter had refused a handshake from the former.
Perez, 30, moved Eray Comert – who was sat between the pair – and struck Latasa in the arm with his fist.
Latasa, 24, simply stared into space and did not break his gaze before Comert stepped in to restrain an irate Perez.
Perez was an unused substitute in a game that ended with his side losing 4-0 and leaving them rooted to the foot of the table with just eight games to play.
Both players issued a joint statement on Monday to apologise for their actions.
They said: ‘No sporting result or frustration can justify disrespect or the behaviour that we showed yesterday on the bench.
‘We want to apologise to our team-mates, to the club and to the fans.
‘We apologise to the fans without any excuse to justify our behaviour and with the humility of those who have made a mistake and seek to repair the damage caused.’
