Real Betis midfielder Sergi Altimira admitted “things that shouldn’t happen” occurred in the friendly against Como which descended into chaos but insisted competitiveness is a footballer’s “weapon”.
The incident was sparked by heavy challenges on Betis midfielders Giovani Lo Celso and Isco, leading to Pablo Fornals and Como’s Maxi Perrone trading punches before team-mates also waded in.
After more punches and much pushing, tempers finally calmed.
Fornals and Perrone were dismissed with a calmer second half resulting in Como snatching a late 3-2 win thanks to Ivan Azon’s goal.
‘Real Betis and Como wanted to win’
Altimira said: “There were things that shouldn’t happen. Both teams want to win, we are very competitive. That is our weapon.
“I think that in this type of game we should not cross the line and we have to stay with the football, what we must improve and the things we have done well.”
Betis’ experienced boss Manuel Pellegrini told his players to calm down at half-time.
“He told us that we should not get embroiled in this type of game,” added Altimira. “We knew that they had made many fouls, they stopped the game a lot and that was what they wanted.
“We had to show a better mentality and so we have shown it, too bad [we condeded] the goal in the dying moments.”
Como head to Barcelona for Sunday’s Joan Gamper Trophy next while Betis take on Malaga in the Costa Del Sol Trophy.
