Dudu Aouate after getting stitches
צילום: דיאריו אס
Israeli goalie punched in the face by Deportivo teammate
Goalkeepers Dudu Aouate and Gustavo Munua to be sidelined by Primera Liga club for the rest of the incident after locker room incident. 'It wasn't a fight. He's hit me without any explanation,' Israeli international says
Deportivo Coruna goalkeepers Dudu Aouate and Gustavo Munua will be sidelined for the rest of the season after a dressing-room incident, the Primera Liga club's coach Miguel Angel Lotina said on Saturday.
Israel international Aouate needed stitches round his left eye after an incident at the end of training on Friday when Uruguayan Munua was reported to have punched his teammate in the face.
"I have the support of the club and we are going to be tough and strict," Lotina told a news conference.
"The dressing-room is united and we are not going to allow it to be divided. My idea is that (B-team keeper) Fabricio will be the first choice for the rest of the season. I am not going to allow bad conduct under any circumstances."
'I have never spoken badly of a colleague'
Earlier, Aouate said he was shocked by what had happened between him and Munua.
"It was a surprise. After training I showered and went to get dressed. Munua came in and said: 'Who are you looking at?' I received a punch in the eye and it started to bleed heavily. All the team were there and were shocked," Aouate was quoted as saying in sports daily Marca on Saturday.
"It wasn't a fight. He's hit me without any explanation. I am surprised a team mate can do something like this."
On Thursday, Aouate had told a news conference it was unfair that he had been dropped as first-choice keeper.
The 30-year-old has been Depor's number one since he arrived from Racing Santander in 2006 but was dropped to the bench after the 2-1 league defeat at home to Osasuna at the beginning of December, to be replaced by 29-year-old reserve Munua.
"I have never complained about or spoken badly of a colleague. I spoke about my ability and the team's predicament. They asked me about Munua and I didn't say anything," Aouate added.
The club said in a statement that both keepers would be left out of the squad to visit Villarreal in the Primera Liga on Sunday, and that there would be a meeting with them next week.
Spanish media said Munua had been unavailable for comment.
Depor are second from bottom in the league, two points from safety.
