Football
Adriana Garcia 6y

Thiago dos Santos to leave Nacional Potosi after pushing coach, says club

Brazilian striker Thiago dos Santos will no longer play for Bolivian side Nacional Potosi after pushing his own coach in an angry response to being substituted during a game on Tuesday night.

Video images show Dos Santos' violent response to being replaced in the 34th minute of the match against Sport Boys.

The 33-year-old had to be restrained by teammates as he aggressively moved towards his Argentine coach, Edgardo Malvestiti.

"What Thiago did is unacceptable because he not only disrespected our coach but our institution," Nacional Potosi president Wilfredo Condori told the local media. "He will leave, more so because he will not be available to play for us as it's a fact that he will be given a harsh punishment."

Malvestiti, whose side lost 4-0 on the night, was shocked by the incident and said on Wednesday: "The truth is that I couldn't sleep last night, I'm ashamed of what that footballer did.

"The player has told the media that the problem comes from way before but I've only been in the team two months and during that time, he has played 90 percent of the games. He contradicts himself. He has stained the name of the club, of his teammates, of the coach.

"I've never experienced such an episode before, I'm stunned. I made the substitution for strategic and tactical reasons. I replaced him so that the team could improve. The incident affected the players."

Dos Santos apologised for the incident after the game but maintained the coach was against him.

He told Unitel TV: "I know what I did. I regret it. I know that I probably damaged my future at Nacional. I was very offended by the substitution. I got heated up because it goes way back.

"I don't know if other players have problems [with the coach]. I've been suffering because of him [Malvestitti] for a while now. I had to get it out. I don't know what is going to happen now, whether I will be suspended or my contract will be terminated."

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