Football
ESPN staff 9y

Robert Pires 'punched in the face' by Indian Super League coach, says Zico

The Indian Super League is investigating allegations that FC Goa midfielder Robert Pires was punched in the face by Atletico de Kolkata coach Antonio Lopez Habas during Thursday's match in Goa, reports Reuters.

According to FC Goa coach Zico, 40-year-old summer signing Pires was attacked by Lopez in the tunnel as the sides departed for the half-time interval.

ESPN FC correspondent Julien Laurens revealed on Friday afternoon that Pires confirmed he was punched in the face by Lopez.

The Kolkata franchise -- co-owned by Atletico Madrid -- won the match 2-1 as seven players were shown yellow cards, and former Brazil legend Zico revealed his anger over the alleged incident involving the former France and Arsenal midfielder.

"The other thing that happened which is more serious is that one of our players said that he was beaten by the coach of the other team," the Irish Independent reports him as saying after the game.

"Pires said he was punched on the face by the Atletico coach and it is very shameful.

"I am telling you what my players told me and I didn't see that myself but I don't think that Pires will lie and say something that didn't happen."

An ISL spokesperson told Reuters: "Both teams have written to the ISL and the incident has been referred to the regulatory commissioner."

"Look, none of us was present on the spot when the alleged incident took place," Kolkata team co-owner Utsav Parekh told the Telegraph newspaper.

"We are writing to the ISL about it and we expect them to investigate the matter and come out with the truth.

"CCTV footage is available and so it will not be very difficult to establish the truth. Whatever the incident, one can find that out from the CCTV footage."

Kolkata are currently top of the ISL rankings after picking up nine points from their opening four games.

FC Goa released a statement on Friday confirming they had reported the various incidents from the match and called for strong action from Indian football's governing body.

In a statement released to Press Association Sport, Goa's media manager Rhys Mascarenhas said: "The team manager of FC Goa Mr. Jonathan D'Sousa has complained to the match commissioner that the referee should have expelled Atletico de Kolkata player Fikru Tefera Lemessa for headbutting FC Goa player Gregory Arnolin at the match yesterday."

"Mr. D'Sousa has also complained to the match commissioner regarding the assault by the head coach of Atletico de Kolkata, on FC Goa's marquee player Robert Pires in the area in front of the players dressing rooms during the half-time interval.

"The team manager of team FC Goa has requested that the disciplinary committee take strong disciplinary action against the players and officials of Atletico de Kolkata for their violent conduct."

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