Football: after a headbutt to Henry, an Italian coach sacked in Serie A

Heavy sanction for the transalpine technician. MAXPPP – ABBONDANZA SCURO LEZZI

Lecce coach Roberto D'Aversa, who headbutted Hellas Verona's French striker Thomas Henry on Sunday, has been sacked, the club announced on Monday on X ( ex-Twitter).

"After the events that occurred at the end of the Lecce-Verona match, the club announces that it has sacked coach D'Aversa&quot ;, indicates a brief press release on X.

Roberto D'Aversa headbutted Thomas Henry after the match lost by the Puglia team (1-0) on Sunday during the 28th day of the Puglia Championship. #39;Italy.

🟡🔴 Serie A side Lecce have decided to sack the manager Roberto d’Aversa after he headbutted Verona striker Thomas Henry yesterday. pic.twitter.com/ipAzOcbYbq

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 11, 2024

Incidents broke out in the greatest confusion with shoving between players and management of the two teams at the final whistle. As Henry appeared to be heading to the locker room, D'Aversa walked towards him and headbutted him. Both men then received a red card.

"Nothing justified and never will justify getting a headbutt when you're on your way to the locker room"

"I went onto the pitch to prevent my players from being sent off, as there was a lot of provocation from the Verona players in the last minutes of the match and after the final whistle" quot;, D'Aversa later told Sky Sport.

The Lecce coach, in office since June 2023, then apologized in a message on social networks to Henry, to Verona, to its leaders, to the supporters of Lecce and to the Italian football. He denied headbutting Henry, saying "it was physical contact, head to head” ;.

Also read: VIDEO. In Italy, the Lecce coach loses control and hits the French striker from Verona

Henry also published a message on his social networks in which he claims to have received a headbutt: "Nothing justified and will never justify receiving a head shot when you're on the way to the locker room, happy to have pocketed the three points for victory", said the 29-year-old.

In a press release published immediately, Lecce had "firmly condemned the gesture of (its) coach which is contrary to our principles and the values ​​of sport".