Former Espanyol president Joan Collet was caught up in a physical altercation in the VIP area after the final whistle of the club's clash with Real Betis, capping a frustrating day for the Catalan club both on and off the pitch.
Collet in shocking brawl
Former Espanyol president Collet was involved in a brawl in the VIP area of the RCDE Stadium following the club's dramatic 2-1 La Liga defeat to Real Betis on Sunday, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo. Images circulating on social media show Collet caught up in a physical altercation that reportedly started after provocative behaviour from visiting supporters.
AdvertisementAFPWhat happened in the VIP area?
The incident is understood to have taken place just after the final whistle of a tense and ill-tempered match. Sources suggest that several Real Betis fans in the corporate section acted provocatively, leading to a confrontation with Espanyol supporters. Collet, who was president of the club between 2012 and 2016, initially appeared to be trying to calm the situation before becoming embroiled in the scuffle himself and was reportedly hurt in the process. The former president has since declined to comment on the events.
On-pitch tension boils over in dramatic finish
The off-field clash mirrored the high tension on the pitch, which culminated in a dramatic finale. Espanyol were handed a lifeline deep into stoppage time when they were awarded a 97th-minute penalty after a VAR review. However, captain Javi Puado saw his spot-kick saved by Real Betis goalkeeper and former Espanyol player Pau Lopez, condemning the home side to a frustrating defeat. The atmosphere was further charged by provocative gestures from López towards the home fans.
Defeat leaves Espanyol mid-table
The 2-1 loss, with Pol Lozano's early goal cancelled out by second-half strikes from Cucho Hernández and Abde Ezzalzouli, was a bitter pill to swallow for Espanyol after coming so close to salvaging a point. The result sees the Catalan club drop to ninth in the La Liga standings, with 12 points from their opening eight fixtures. They have now lost two of their last three league games.
