LAZIO star Luiz Felipe said sorry after jumping on an opponent’s back and sparking a mass brawl before leaving the field in tears.
The Brazilian defender was sent off for leaping on Inter striker Joaquin Correa’s shoulders during the Serie A clash.
And that incident led to a brawl between the two sets of players at the end of Lazio’s 3-1 win over Inter Milan.
Felipe left the pitch in tears after the flashpoint with his ‘friend’ Correa and the red card.
Correa, on loan at Inter Milan from Lazio, was furious with the Brazilian centre-back after the heated clash.
But Felipe apologised for his actions and to Inter forward Correa on social media.
He wrote on Instagram: “First of all, I want to clarify that I have great respect for Inter… We are all professionals, working to pursue our goals, and would never fail to respect another professional.
“At the end of the game I jumped on Tucu’s shoulders because he is one of the great friends that football has given me.
“Our families are friends and we have always been very close… I wanted to hug him and joke about the result, as far as our friendship allows, but I got excited.
“Perhaps, in retrospect, it was not the best time or the most suitable place.
“I apologise to anyone who felt offended and I did not try, in any way, to be disrespectful towards him, towards other athletes or towards Internazionale and its passionate fans. It was an innocent act, by a person who has a great affection for Tucu!!”
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Lazio moved into fifth place and within three points of third-placed Inter with the win.
Ciro Immobile, Felipe Anderson and Sergei Milinkovic-Savic scored second-half goals as they came from behind to beat Inter.
Napoli lead the way in Serie A having won all of their eight games to start the campaign.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
