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Zaragoza keeper banned for 13 games for punching rival
TL;DR
Esteban Andrada, Real Zaragoza's goalkeeper, has been banned for 13 matches after punching Huesca's Jorge Pulido during a heated derby. The incident occurred after Andrada was sent off for a second yellow card.
Key points
- Esteban Andrada banned for 13 matches
- Incident occurred during a derby match
- Andrada punched Huesca's Jorge Pulido
- Andrada was sent off for a second yellow card
Esteban AndradaJorge PulidoReal ZaragozaHuesca
Esteban Andrada is on loan at Real Zaragoza from Mexican side Monterrey [Getty Images]
Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada has been banned for 13 matches after he punched a Huesca player in the face.
Andrada had already been sent off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time at the end of Sunday's heated derby game in Spain's second division.
The Argentine then sprinted towards Huesca captain Jorge Pulido and punched him in the face.
That led to a mass brawl, resulting in Huesca keeper Dani Jimenez and Zaragoza's Dani Tasende also being dismissed.
The Spanish football federation has handed Andrada a 12-game suspension for the punch, to go with the initial automatic one-match ban for the red card.
"The truth is I'm very, very sorry for what happened," Andrada, 35, said on Sunday.
"It's not a good image for the club, for the fans, and especially not for a professional like myself. So, I'm very sorry.
"Throughout my career, I've only had one red card, and that was for a handball outside the penalty area.
"I also want to apologize to Jorge Pulido because we are colleagues, and honestly, it was my fault. I lost focus at that moment, and well, I am here for whatever consequences the league may give me."
Zaragoza, who remain in the relegation zone alongside Huesca following the 1-0 loss, released a statement on Sunday saying it "strongly condemns what happened" and will "take the appropriate disciplinary measures".
Q&A
Why was Esteban Andrada banned for 13 matches?
Esteban Andrada was banned for 13 matches for punching Huesca captain Jorge Pulido in the face during a derby match.
What led to Esteban Andrada's red card in the match?
Andrada received a red card for a second bookable offence in stoppage time before the incident with Pulido.
How does this ban affect Real Zaragoza's season?
Andrada's 13-match ban will significantly impact Real Zaragoza's goalkeeping options and overall performance in the second division.
