Aduriz and Keita in fracas
Real Mallorca strikers Aritz Aduriz and Alhassane Keita are to face disciplinary action after a fracas in the 1-1 draw with Malaga on Sunday.
As tension mounted towards the end of a frustrating game, Aduriz made clear his feelings towards Keita after the Guinean failed to pass to the Spaniard as the Islanders searched for an equaliser. The two then came to blows before being separated by midfielder Julio Alvarez. Three Mallorca players otherwise occupied whilst the ball was still in play.
Following the game, coach Manzano said, “It was negative. They had alot of nerves come the end of the game and picked the worst time to rid their frustrations. We’ll be having words on Monday.”
On Monday the club released a statement saying that Aduriz and Keita “will be disciplined in a sufficient and timely manner that shall remain private inside the club”. Both players have since apologised to each other, their team mates and the fans.
Aduriz stated that he was “sorry to the fans, because that sort of behaviour is out of place. I apologised to Keita and my team mates. This won’t happen again as it is a reflection of my relationship with Keita and the incident was an isolated result of nerves and frustration.”
Keita stated that “it was the product of tension and nerves in an important game. Everyone wants to win, we were just extremely frustrated. I have no problem with Aritz, he’s my friend. It was something that happened, we talked and it’s all cleared up now. Now we need to look to Bilbao [the next match] and I ask that everyone supports us in our goal for Champions League football.”
The club went onto say in their statement that it “regrets the damage this incident may have done to its image and hope it doesn’t divert attention from it’s sporting objectives.”