The former Lazio, Inter and Brescia player now coaches Aek Athens. Defeated in the playoffs for the title by Paok, at the end of the match anything happens. “They pushed me and I reacted. I am a man, blood flows in my veins.”
Matias Almeyda he’s furious, they have to drag him away by force to avoid worse trouble for him. In the finale of Aek Athens (of which the former Argentine footballer is coach) e Paok anything happens: the team from Thessaloniki wins an important match in the playoffs of the top Greek championship (2-3) and, at the end of the match, the tension explodes causing a commotion involving many, too many people, who rush onto the pitch. Players, staff, security personnel and others: seeing that scene from above it seemed like being in front of an anthill due to the swarm of bodies that were almost fighting. Screams, shoves, slaps and dirty looks become part of the accessory mix of madness and adrenaline which are an explosive mixture.
One of the most excited is the former Lazio, Inter and Brescia midfielder. In that shameful chaos that was unleashed after a tough defeat in the title race, Almeyda took the spotlight for his conduct: first he had an altercation then he let himself be carried away by his anger and reacted in a disorganized manner. The camera lens captured expressions, gestures and lips that characterized his outburst. An outburst of anger that began with a squabble and then degenerated into such an uproar that the police were forced to intervene directly, managing to bring order with difficulty.
Some Aek players try to hold back the 50-year-old South American coach but to no avail: he squirms and wriggles, escapes the grip and runs away, leaves the crowd and turns around, shouts something and points his index finger. Who is he mad at? For one in particular he will put his hands around his neck giving the impression of strangling him. At least that’s what he seemed to do judging from the video sequence of those moments: they had just in time to get him out of that crowd. Who was the person attacked? Ironically, an official who works for security inside the stadiums.
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After the match Almeyda apologized but wanted to clarify what happened and why he behaved in that way. “Did you see how many people were in the stadium? What I always say is that if we want things to change in Greek football then it is necessary that there aren’t so many people. Who protects us on the pitch? At a certain point the referee himself asked me said he couldn’t believe his eyes.”
The Argentine does not seek justifications and admits: “Yes, I made a mistake. But all this cannot be normal in football. It’s not a question of winning or losing but of respect. They pushed me and I reacted. I’m a man, the blood flows in my veins. I won’t change the way I do it. who I am as a person. I respect everyone and want to be treated like a human being.” How many days of disqualification do you risk? At least three.
