Fist in opponent's face, maxi disqualification for goalkeeper

Last weekend, fans present at the El Alcoraz stadium in Huesca witnessed a crazy scene: in the dying minutes, Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada got into a heated argument with Jorge Pulido and then punched him in the face.

Andrada’s teammates tackled him to prevent the situation from escalating but by then the damage had been done. The Disciplinary Commission of the Spanish Football Federation disqualified the goalkeeper for as many as 13 games to which a day must be added for the sum of cautions.

The following is the report of referee Dámaso Arcediano: “After being sent off for double admonition, Real Zaragoza’s number 1 player Esteban Maximiliano Andrada, before leaving the field, violently and aggressively approached Huesca player Jorge Pulido Mayoral, running towards him and jumping on him, simultaneously hitting him in the face with force, causing him to fall to the ground and causing a hematoma to his left cheekbone.”

“Following these events, a fight broke out between the players. Andrada was restrained by members of both teams and State Security Forces who took him to the locker room.”