La Liga - Pepe apologises for Casquero attack

Eurosport - Thu, 23 Apr 11:41:00 2009

Real Madrid's Portuguese international Pepe, who faces a lengthy ban for a violent outburst against two Getafe players on Tuesday, has said he feels "devastated" by his actions and will accept any penalty he is given.

FOOTBALL Pepe Real Madrid / Foto Imago - 0

"I am devastated, and very sad," the 26-year-old Brazilian-born player told Marca.

"All I can do is offer my apologies to the players, their families, the fans and my colleagues," he added.

With the scores level at 2-2 and three minutes left in the Liga clash at Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Pepe shoved Getafe's Francisco Casquero to the ground to concede a late penalty and kicked out at the midfielder.

He then palmed the angry Juan Albin in the face in the ensuing melee. Pepe was sent off but in the ensuing penalty Francisco Casquero's cheeky chipped spot-kick was saved by Iker Casillas.

Gonzalo Higuain then went down the other end to net a dramatic winner for Real.

Pepe now risks a ban of between four and 12 matches, meaning he could miss the rest of the season, when the Spanish Football Federation meet to discuss the incident on Friday.

The player said he would accept any punishment he is given.

"I am willing to accept the penalty that I am given," Pepe told Marca.

In an interview published in a Portuguese newspaper, Casquero said he forgave Pepe but still hoped the player would be dealt with accordingly.

"I forgive Pepe but what he did was appalling. I hope the disciplinary committee will be severe and rigorous," he told Correio da Manha.

Defending Spanish champions Real are locked in a fierce battle with arch rivals Barcelona for the title this season. Real are in second place in the league with 75 points, six points behind leaders Barcelona.

Pepe, renowned for his pace, tackling and attacking play, joined Real from Portuguese side Porto on a five-year contract reportedly worth 30 million euros in July 2007.

AFP

Comment 9 - 28 of 28

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  1. Pepe should be banned forever. He should his new career­ as a WRESTLER. His new name should be BALD PAPAYA the­ latest @#$% hole

    From Shawon, on Sat 25 Apr 3:50PM

  2. dan.neagu,barca_nr_1,vosfodo,Topher­ D,la_carlamms,attwoodp,Top Dog,zeray­ g,damnsoldja,Akhuetiemhen E, you guys are jack @#$%. u­ think u guys dont ge angry at all or u guys never go­ the balls to be so. come let Pepe go, he just bit mad­ and in fact he apologized. he even got his punishment.­ u guys are bunch of maggots wgo r good in acusing­ some1. and u topdog, u just wait for ur comments r­ going down the drain. we'll who plays dirty in the­ future. Hail Madrid, European and Spanish Legendary­ Juggernaut

    From skullray47, on Sat 25 Apr 5:09AM

  3. fk pepe
    fk real madrid

    From dan.neagu, on Fri 24 Apr 2:57AM

  4. PEPE IS A BLOODY IDIOT AND SHOULD BE BANNED FOR LIFE.­ THAT AGGRESSIVE IDIOT DOESN´T DESERVE TO PLAY FOOTBALL­ ANYMORE. HE IS A STUPID PLAYER.

    From oldskoolape, on Fri 24 Apr 12:16AM

  5. and real gonna keep pepe at the club. they are­ delighted.

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 23 Apr 10:42PM

  6. the whole real madrid is dirty. and they cheating in­ every season!!! the whole club is dirty.

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 23 Apr 10:36PM

  7. Pepe u @sshole, shud hav hit Casquero harder so someone­ else could have taken that PK. R/Mad did not desrve to­ win that game....hell no!!

    From Top Dog, on Thu 23 Apr 9:39PM

  8. Pepe and R/Mad suit each other just fine....dumb and­ dirty..LOL!!

    From Top Dog, on Thu 23 Apr 9:35PM

  9. pepe should be punished for his actions and the­ governing body should also use this as a warning for­ others.

    From Charles, on Thu 23 Apr 8:37PM

  10. ronaldo was the in barca in 1996 and 97 also figo in­ 2000 but both end in madrid .to all barca fans nothing­ imposible with faletino perez the only he can't is­ messi but he will bring both iniesta and eto like­ ronaldo and figo . don't wary you will get guti­ hainzi van der vart and PEPE all this free

    From getachew44, on Thu 23 Apr 6:37PM

  11. Pepe should be banned for life for what he did. First­ he caused a clear penalty, that was a push. Second, he­ goes and kicks the player 2 times on the back, and­ third he slaps another getafe player and punches­ another getafe player. Check for yourself, go to­ youtube and search the title ANIMAL PEPE AGRESION­ CASQUERO REAL MADRID GETAFE, and you will see exactly­ what happened.

    From barca_nr_1, on Thu 23 Apr 6:04PM

  12. Pepe should be banned for life for what he did. First­ he caused a clear penalty, that was a push. Second, he­ goes and kicks the player 2 times on the back, and­ third he slaps another getafe player and punches­ another getafe player. Check for yourself, go to­ youtube and search the title ANIMAL PEPE AGRESION­ CASQUERO REAL MADRID GETAFE, and you will see exactly­ what happened.

    From barca_nr_1, on Thu 23 Apr 6:04PM

  13. Pepe should be banned for life for what he did. First­ he caused a clear penalty, that was a push. Second, he­ goes and kicks the player 2 times on the back, and­ third he slaps another getafe player and punches­ another getafe player. Check for yourself, go to­ youtube and search the title ANIMAL PEPE AGRESION­ CASQUERO REAL MADRID GETAFE, and you will see exactly­ what happened.

    From barca_nr_1, on Thu 23 Apr 6:04PM

  14. @ #15 go fuxk yourself, you wish for madSHIT to have­ Iniesta and Eto'o. Plus Barca don't wan't­ cheaters like heinze or poop (pepe)

    From barca_nr_1, on Thu 23 Apr 5:59PM

  15. #14 Both hainzi and pepe are going to barca and this­ coming summer there will be this 2 going to barca and­ in other side the 2 iniesta and eto will be in madrid­ i'm 100% sure there are also ronaldo fabrigas­ lapaza and maico of inter coming

    From getachew44, on Thu 23 Apr 5:47PM

  16. I am not surprised along with Heinze he is one of the­ dirtiest players in La Liga and a known diver. I'm­ surprised that referees let them get away with so many­ fouls.

    From attwoodp, on Thu 23 Apr 5:06PM

  17. I am not surprised along with Heinze he is one of the­ dirtiest players in La Liga and a known diver. I'm­ surprised that referees let them get away with so many­ fouls.

    From attwoodp, on Thu 23 Apr 5:05PM

  18. It was outrageous. However the 'shoved' to the­ ground is nonsense, Pepe stretches his arm towards­ Casquero, it's barely a push, then the guy takes a­ few more steps and throws himself on the floor. I think­ any defender would be extremely annoyed if that­ happened.

    That said Pepe was wrong and should be dealt­ with appropriately. Great entertainment though.

    From samcoldy, on Thu 23 Apr 4:13PM

  19. that's the end of his career in la liga.. some sin­ from calderon era..!

    From carlamms, on Thu 23 Apr 4:13PM

  20. pepe must be forgive before he kill his parrents wife­ and kids . don't be surprise he is so block head

    From zeray g, on Thu 23 Apr 4:02PM
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