Lecce, a Serie A side, has taken swift action following a disturbing incident during their match against Verona. Manager Roberto D’Aversa was fired after an altercation with Verona striker Thomas Henry.
D’Aversa headbutted the forward following a heated exchange after the game, which ended in a 1-0 loss for Lecce against their relegation rivals.
D’Aversa, aged 48, faced immediate consequences as he was shown a red card alongside Henry. Lecce promptly issued a statement condemning D’Aversa’s behaviour, emphasizing that it contradicts the club’s values and those of sportsmanship.
D’aversa a capocciate con Henry.
— CosaSeiPerMe (@joseseiperme) March 10, 2024
Ehhhhhhhh ma…… pic.twitter.com/sSH2h70FPX
Less than 24 hours after the incident, Lecce terminated D’Aversa’s contract, officially confirming his dismissal on Monday morning. The club expressed gratitude to D’Aversa and his staff for their contributions but stressed the importance of upholding the club’s principles.
Publicly acknowledging his actions as “inexcusable,” D’Aversa attempted to clarify the situation, stating that he intervened to prevent his players from further confrontation with Verona players, whom he claimed were provoking his team during and after the match. However, he admitted that the headbutt was regrettable and apologized to Verona for his behaviour.
The altercation between Henry and Lecce defender Marin Pongracic escalated tensions in the match’s final moments, ultimately resulting in the confrontation between D’Aversa and Henry after the final whistle. This incident overshadowed the sporting aspect of the game and drew widespread condemnation.
Despite D’Aversa’s explanation, Lecce’s decision to part ways with him was influenced by the incident and the team’s performance. The defeat against Verona pushed Lecce down to 15th place in the Serie A table, just one point above the relegation zone, prompting the club to take decisive action to address the situation.
As D’Aversa’s successor, former Spezia boss Leonardo Semplici is being considered among the candidates for a short-term deal, with only ten games remaining in the Serie A season. The club aims to stabilize the team and secure their position in the league amidst the ongoing challenges on and off the pitch.
