Costa Rica Coach Paulo Wanchope Exchanges Blows with Security Man (Photos + Video)
Posted by Odinaka on Thu 13th Aug, 2015 - tori.ng
A fight with a security man has brought the short, winless era of Paulo Wanchope as head of Costa Rica's men's football team to a strange and abrupt end.
Costa Rica national team coach, Paulo Wanchope, has resigned on Wednesday after being involved in a fist fight with a security person during an Olympic qualifying match against Panama.
The manager who was observing the match on Tuesday in Panama City between the respective countries' Under-23 teams, was shown in video footage to retaliate after being pushed by the man.
According to Panamanian media, a stadium security guard told Wanchope that he could not enter the field towards the end of Costa Rica’s 0-0 tie with Panama, prompting Wanchope to become visibly upset. What followed is shown in the video below, as Wanchope is pushed. He then turns around and slaps a short, bald security guy.
The security guard takes on the much taller Wanchope with an impressive flying kick. He then forces him to take a seat while the scuffle continues. Both men were then held back by more security guards and fans.
The disgraced team manager said in a news conference:
Paulo Wanchope
"We are human beings and unfortunately I reacted in an unacceptable way for the position I held. But let this not stain what I have done for all of you.
"The (football) ambience is tough, it's tense, but until yesterday I managed to handle it. One can tolerate comments by reporters and on social media and stay calm but it's hard to hold back when someone puts their hands on you."