In a weekend La Liga clash, Valladolid players, Luis Pérez and Juan Miguel Latasa, found themselves in hot water following a heated incident on the team bench. By Monday, the duo issued a public apology for their behavior during Sunday’s 4-0 defeat against Getafe, acknowledging their actions were unacceptable.
The players released a joint statement expressing regret for their conduct, stating, “No sporting result or frustration can justify disrespect or the behavior that we showed yesterday on the bench. We want to apologize to our teammates, to the club, and to the fans.” They also mentioned having personally apologized to their teammates and committed to accepting any disciplinary measures the club deems necessary.
Valladolid responded to the incident with condemnation and is deliberating potential disciplinary actions against the players. “We deeply regret the image presented by our players,” stated a club spokesperson.
Television broadcasts captured the moment Pérez attempted to strike Latasa following an argument. The altercation occurred shortly after Latasa was substituted in the 60th minute. Luckily, the situation didn’t escalate further as Eray Comert, another teammate sitting between them, intervened to prevent Pérez from advancing. Promptly, Valladolid staff stepped in to manage the situation, with Pérez eventually being guided away by a team staff member.
The incident comes at a challenging time for Valladolid, struggling at the bottom of the standings without a victory in their last 11 matches, 10 resulting in losses. The club’s frustrations are manifesting not just in gameplay but now visibly on the sidelines.