Real Madrid’s Portuguese international Pepe, who faces a lengthy ban for a violent outburst against two Getafe players on Tuesday, said he felt “devastated” by his actions and will accept any penalty he is given.
“I am devastated, and very sad,” the 26-year-old Brazilian-born player said Thursday in Spanish sports daily Marca.
“All I can do is offer pologise to the players, their families, the fans and my colleagues,” he added.
With the scores level at 2-2 and three minutes left in the Spanish League clash at Real’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Pepe shoved Getafe?s Francisco Casquero to the ground to concede a late penalty and then brutally stamped on the midfielder.
He then palmed the angry Juan Albin in the face in the ensuing melee. Pepe was sent off but in the ensuing penalty Francisco Casquero’s cheeky chipped spot-kick was saved by Iker Casillas.
Gonzalo Higuain then went down the other end to net a dramatic winner for Real.
Pepe now risks a ban of between four and 12 matches, meaning he could miss the rest of the season, when the Spanish Football Federation meet to discuss the incident on Friday.
The player said he would accept any punishment he is given.
“I am willing to accept the penalty that I am given,” Pepe told Marca.
Defending Spanish champions Real are locked in a fierce battle with arch rivals Barcelona for the title this season. Real are in second place in the league with 75 points, six points behind leaders Barcelona.
Pepe, renowned for his pace, tackling and attacking play, joined Real from Portuguese side Porto on a five-year contract reportedly worth 30 million euros in July 2007.
