The Spanish football federation has imposed a 13-match ban on Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada following an incident in which he struck a Huesca player in the face.
The federation’s disciplinary committee issued a statement revealing that both the Argentine international and his club would incur fines. This penalty comes after Andrada was initially dismissed from the match and subsequently “attacked” Jorge Pulido from Huesca during their derby clash in the second division last Sunday.
Andrada received a 12-match suspension for the punch, while the automatic one-match ban for his initial red card means he will miss the remainder of the season, a major setback for Zaragoza as they strive to avoid relegation.
At 35 years old and currently on loan from Mexican club Monterrey, Andrada was shown a second yellow card for pushing Pulido. His frustration boiled over as he charged at Pulido, igniting a brawl in the dying moments of the match.
“I truly regret what transpired,” Andrada expressed after the match.
“It reflects poorly on the club, the fans, and particularly on me as a professional. I am genuinely sorry.”
In addition, Huesca’s goalkeeper Dani Jimenez and Zaragoza’s Dani Tasende both received red cards in the melee that followed, with Huesca ultimately securing a 1-0 victory. Jimenez was handed a four-match ban, while Tasende was suspended for two matches.
“What we witnessed were actions that tarnish our sport and should never have taken place,” Zaragoza stated in a follow-up announcement on Sunday.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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