Zaragoza goalkeeper Andrada banned for 13 games for punching opponent

Zaragoza goalkeeper Andrada banned for 13 games for punching opponent

The federation's disciplinary panel announced in a release that the Argentine player and his team will face fines too, following his initial dismissal and subsequent assault on Huesca's Jorge Pulido during the second-division local derby last Sunday.

Andrada received a 12-game suspension directly for the strike, plus an additional one-game ban from his first red card, which means he will miss the remainder of the campaign and hinder Zaragoza's efforts to stay in the division.

The 35-year-old goalkeeper, borrowed from Mexico's Monterrey, pushed Pulido to the ground and earned a second yellow for that action.

Overcome with anger, Andrada charged towards Pulido, landed a punch, and triggered a full-scale fight on the field during added time.

"The truth is I'm very, very sorry for what happened," Andrada commented later.

"It's not a good image for the club, for the fans, and especially not for a professional like myself. So, I'm very sorry."

In the ensuing melee, Huesca's keeper Dani Jimenez and Zaragoza's Dani Tasende were also ejected, as the home side Huesca secured a narrow 1-0 victory. Jimenez got a four-match ban, while Tasende was suspended for two.

"We witnessed scenes unbecoming of this sport and which should never have occurred," Zaragoza stated on Sunday.