Spanish football manager Pep Clotet has caused a major stir in Italy after a shocking altercation with his own player, Raimonds Krollis, during Triestina’s Serie C match against Giana Erminio on Friday. The incident, which unfolded in the 33rd minute, has quickly gone viral, drawing widespread criticism and raising eyebrows across the football world.
Krollis, a Latvian forward on loan at Triestina, received a straight red card for a foul, prompting a moment of heated frustration from Clotet as the player walked off the pitch. The manager, visibly enraged, grabbed Krollis by the collar and shook him forcefully. In a surprising turn, Krollis did not retaliate but instead walked off with a dejected expression on his face.
The incident did little to help Triestina, who went on to suffer a 1-0 defeat, with Giana Erminio’s Gabriel Avinci scoring the match’s only goal in the 87th minute.
Clotet, however, defended his actions in a post-match interview. The manager expressed that he believed the red card was unjust and that Krollis’s behavior was unacceptable. “Regarding the red card incident, I think my reaction was justified,” Clotet told reporters. “That sending off should never happen in football. Krollis is here on loan from another club, representing us. What he did was disrespectful to Triestina, to the club that trusted him, and to the game itself.”
Clotet, visibly upset, further explained his mindset: “I have an eight-year-old son who saw this today. I come from a culture where such behavior is simply not acceptable. If a player acted like this on the street, there would be legal consequences. We cannot tolerate this, and we must not accept it.”
In a dramatic move, Clotet announced that Krollis had been dismissed from the team. “I told him face to face that with me as coach, his time at Triestina is over,” Clotet said firmly.
The incident has sparked a wide range of reactions, with many questioning Clotet’s handling of the situation. Known for his previous managerial stints at clubs like Cornella, Espanyol B, Oxford United. And Birmingham City, Clotet’s reputation in Italian football is now clouded by the altercation. He has also worked as an assistant coach at Leeds United under Garry Monk.
This latest controversy adds to the ongoing debates over manager-player relationships in football and raises questions about the appropriate boundaries in the emotional heat of the game.
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