Key Takeaways
- Esteban Andrada will miss the rest of the season after receiving a 13-match ban for violent conduct.
- The Argentine goalkeeper punched Huesca’s Jorge Pulido following his dismissal in a heated derby clash.
- The punishment deals a severe blow to Real Zaragoza’s fight to avoid relegation from the Segunda División.
Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada has been handed a 13-match suspension by the Spanish Football Federation. The ban follows an ugly incident where the Argentine shot-stopper punched an opponent during a second-tier derby last weekend.
The federation’s disciplinary committee confirmed the punishment on Tuesday. Andrada received a 12-game ban for the assault on Huesca defender Jorge Pulido. He must also serve an automatic one-match suspension for his earlier red card.
The incident occurred during stoppage time of Sunday’s match. Andrada first shoved Pulido to the ground and received a second yellow card. Instead of leaving the pitch, the 35-year-old ran towards Pulido and struck him in the face. This sparked a mass brawl involving players from both sides.
Huesca goalkeeper Dani Jiménez and Zaragoza defender Dani Tasende also received their marching orders during the chaos. Jiménez faces a four-match ban, while Tasende will sit out two games. The federation has fined both Andrada and his club for the misconduct.
The lengthy suspension rules Andrada out for the remainder of the campaign. This leaves second-bottom Zaragoza without their first-choice keeper as they battle to stay in the Segunda División. The Aragonese club currently faces a desperate fight against relegation.
Andrada, who is on loan from Mexican side CF Monterrey, has apologised for his actions. “I am very, very sorry for what happened,” he stated. “This is not the right image for the club, the supporters, or a professional player.”
Real Zaragoza issued a statement condemning the scenes. “We witnessed behaviour that does not belong in football,” the club said. Huesca secured a 1-0 victory in the ill-tempered fixture.