An Italian football coach has sparked controversy after receiving a red card for an extraordinary on-pitch intervention during a sixth-tier match between Pontassieve and Subbiano.
The incident, which occurred over the weekend, saw the Subbiano coach, Alessio Guidotti, charge onto the pitch and tackle a Pontassieve player who appeared to be through on goal.
The shocking moment was captured on video and has since gone viral, amassing over 1.5 million views on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Football fans have reacted with disbelief to what has been dubbed "one of football's maddest moments".
The footage shows Guidotti, wearing an orange bib, sprinting onto the pitch and executing a blatant tackle on the Pontassieve player.
Despite the obvious nature of his infraction, Guidotti bizarrely raised his hands in protest as the referee immediately dismissed him from the match.
Italian coach Alessio Guidotti sparked fury after he was sent off
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The incident has been described as "one of the most obvious red cards in football's history".
Guidotti's actions not only disrupted play but also significantly impacted the match outcome, which ultimately ended in a goalless draw.
Marco Guidi, the Pontassieve coach, condemned Guidotti's actions, stating: "I am mostly sorry for Subbiano because they are a famous and respectful club."
Their coach's attitude sullied them and affected the game's outcome because we were attacking two against one."
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Subbiano responded with an official statement, expressing deep regret for the incident.
The club acknowledged that such behaviour "should never happen" and deserves punishment.
However, they also emphasised that it was not a violent incident and that Guidotti was "the first one to be sorry".
Alessio Guidotti ran onto the pitch to tackle the player as he ran towards goal
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The club added: "We hope tones will be kept down as they have been as unpleasant as the incident itself."
The consequences for Alessio Guidotti remain uncertain, but Subbiano's statement hints at potential disciplinary action.
The club's response suggests that Guidotti's position as manager may be under review.
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Alessio Guidotti held his hands up immediately but was instantly sent off
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The incident has cast a shadow over what was otherwise an uneventful match, with the 0-0 scoreline underscoring the impact of Guidotti's intervention.
As the video continues to circulate online, the football community awaits official word on any sanctions against Guidotti.
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