Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada has been banned for 13 matches after striking an opponent during Sunday’s derby match against Huesca in Spain’s second division.
Andrada, 35, was one of three players shown a red card deep into stoppage time at the end of the match, which Huesca won 1-0 to move above Zaragoza in the relegation zone of Spain’s second division.
The Argentine goalkeeper was shown a second yellow card after pushing Huesca captain Jorge Pulido. Andrada had been confronted by his opponent as he was speaking to match official Damaso Arcediano Monescillo on the touchline.
After being shown the red card, Andrada moved towards Pulido and punched him, which sparked a mass confrontation; Huesca goalkeeper Dani Jimenez was shown a straight red card for appearing to strike Andrada, as Zaragoza left-back Dani Tasende was also dismissed.
Andrada’s actions were deemed by Spanish football’s disciplinary committee to be “violent and aggressive”, noting that his punch had knocked Pulido to the floor and resulted in a bruise to his left cheekbone, while also providing the starting point for the incidents that followed.
He received a one-game ban for the second bookable offence, with a further 12 matches for the punch.
Huesca goalkeeper Jimenez has been handed a four-game ban “for assaulting another player”, while Zaragoza’s Tasende has been suspended for two games for “kicking an opponent in the leg while the ball was not in play”.
Andrada issued an apology after the match, issued through Zaragoza’s club media, saying he “crossed the line” with his actions, apologised directly to Pulido, and added he was ready for whatever punishment he would receive.
Zaragoza said after the match the club would look to take its own “appropriate disciplinary measures” in what it described as “scenes unbecoming of the sport”.
Huesca also issued a statement condemning the scenes and saying the club accepted Andrada’s apology.
Zaragoza are 21st in Spain’s second-tier, three points behind Cadiz and safety, with Huesca — also in the relegation zone — one point and two places above their regional rivals in the standings.
Goalkeeper Andrada, capped four times by Argentina, is on a season-long loan at Zaragoza from Mexican club Monterrey, featuring 28 times in all competitions. The suspension will rule him out for the remainder of the season.
