Basel goalkeeper Franco Costanzo was fined by his Swiss club for attacking a teammate on the pitch and grabbing him by the hair.
Costanzo, the team captain, lost his temper at the end of Basel’s 1-1 draw at home to arch-rivals and titleholders FC Zurich in a league match on Sunday.
Television pictures showed the Argentine remonstrating furiously with teammate Beg Ferati as the final whistle went.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Ferati pushed Costanzo away, enraging the goalkeeper even more. He then put his hand on Ferati’s head and grabbed him by the hair before teammates and at least one opponent came in to separate them.
“He lost his composure in an unacceptable way and overstepped the legitimate emotional boundaries,” said the club in a statement. “The club will not accept one of its own players giving a bad example on or near the field of play.”
Basel ordered the 28-year-old Costanzo — who could still be suspended by the Swiss league — to pay an undisclosed amount toward a program that promotes responsible fan behavior, adding that Costanzo would keep the captaincy.
The club said its disciplinary panel cleared Ferati of blame, saying his verbal response to Costanzo’s criticism was understandable.
“I’m sorry, I apologize,” the former River Plate and Alaves goalkeeper said in a television interview after the game. “Everyone knows me and it’s the first time in my career I’ve done a stupid thing like this. It’s a situation we have to sort out in the dressing room.”
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