ROME – Lecce have fired manager Roberto D’Aversa after he got into a physical altercation with an opposing player at the end of their loss to Hellas Verona at the weekend, the Serie A club said on March 11.

D’Aversa headbutted Verona striker Thomas Henry in the aftermath of their 1-0 home defeat on March 10, and the club released a statement later that day condemning the incident and dismissed the coach.

“After the events that took place at the end of the Lecce-Verona match, U.S. Lecce announces that it has relieved coach Roberto D’Aversa of his duties,” the club said in a statement.

D’Aversa, 48, was shown the red card along with Henry, and afterwards the coach, who joined Lecce in June 2023, apologised while saying his players had been continually provoked towards the end of the game.

He added: “But this does not justify and will never justify being headbutted when you’re walking back to the dressing room.”

The Italian later admitted to Sky Sport that his behaviour was “inexcusable” but that he only went on the pitch “to try and stop my players being sent off as Verona were provoking us a lot”.

“It wasn’t a nice thing to do, I know that. It’s inexcusable and I’ve been to explain my actions to Verona. I didn’t come on the pitch to do that,” he said.

He later apologised on Instagram while claiming he did not actually headbutt Henry.

“There was head-to-head contact, but I didn’t headbutt him, nor him me. It was physical contact, a bad example, unsporting conduct which was the result of tension and adrenaline... I made a mistake and I apologise,” wrote D’Aversa.

An early strike from Michael Folorunsho earned Verona all three points.

Lecce have won five of their 28 league games this season, which leaves them on 25 points, one point above the relegation zone. Verona overtook them with their win to move onto 26 points. REUTERS