Serie A coach sacked after headbutting opposition player
Serie A club Lecce has terminated the contract of head coach Roberto D’Aversa following an incident where he appeared to headbutt an opposition player in a 1-0 home defeat to Hellas Verona.
On Sunday, the 48-year-old had a confrontation with Verona striker Thomas Henry, who had received a red card in the 97th minute.
The referee, Daniele Chiffi, subsequently showed D’Aversa a red card for his actions.
After the ordeal, Leece released a statement stating that they condemned D’Aversa for lashing out, deeming it to be against the principles and values of sportsmanship.
Roberto D’Aversa, coach US Lecce looks on during the Serie A TIM match between US Lecce and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Via del Mare on March 10, 2024 in Lecce, Italy.
Then a second statement issued on Monday officially announced D’Aversa’s dismissal. It read: “After the events that occurred at the end of the Lecce-Verona match, US Lecce announces that it has relieved coach Roberto D’Aversa of his duties.” The statement also expressed gratitude to their former head coach and his staff for their work.
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After the game, D’Aversa apologised for the headbutt. He told Sky Italia: “Henry and I came into contact, the gesture wasn’t nice to see, my intention was to divide everyone, but he continued to provoke. We spoke to the managers and that was it. I certainly didn’t enter the field to headbutt a player and it was nothing premeditated.
“Otherwise I would have said so. Looking back at the images they say one thing, I say that they are the consequence of a series of provocations at the end of the match. I’ve already spoken to the Verona managers. I apologise for the gesture, it’s not nice to see.”
Head coach of Lecce Roberto D’Aversa gestures during the Serie A TIM match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 25, 2024 in Lecce, Italy.
Leece have been in poor form prior to the headbutt and Sunday’s match, having only won two league games since October, and the incident was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
D’Aversa joined The Salentini at the beginning of the season on a one-year contract with a potential 12-month extension if he steered the club away from relegation.
Before Leece, D’Aversa had managerial spells at Parma, where he spent two consecutive tenures spanning 184 games, as well as Sampdoria, where he lasted just 24 matches in all competitions. Following their 1-0 loss to Verona, Leece sit 15th in the Serie A table, but just one point above the relegation zone with 10 games to go.
