Soccer coach strips in public
2007-02-04 16:42
Cairo - Manual Jose, the Portuguese coach
of Egyptian and African champions Al Ahli, apologised on Sunday
for starting to undress in public in protest against a referee's
decision.
Jose took off his jacket and started to unbutton his shirt
after referee Nasser Abbas booked Al Ahli's Tunisian midfielder
Anis Boujelbene during the team's 4-0 win over Haras el-Hodoud
on Friday.
The referee expelled Jose after the incident, which sparked
a hostile media campaign against the 60-year-old coach.
"After analysing my reaction...I found out that it was
inappropriate and I apologise to all fans in general and to Al
Ahli's fans in particular," a statement on the club's website
quoted Jose as saying. "I forgot at that moment that I was in a
country whose traditions are a little bit different than my
country."