AC Milan coach Max Allegri was furious after Como manager Cesc Fàbregas dragged back Milan midfielder Alexis Saelemaekers in the middle of play.
The incident took place with 10 minutes remaining in a 1-1 draw between Milan and Como in Serie A on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
Saelemaekers lost control of the ball right in front of the touchline. As the Belgian attempted to get back on defense Fàbregas briefly grabbed his jersey, prompting a furious reaction.
Allegri and Fàbregas clashed on the sideline, with the AC Milan boss ultimately shown a red card and the Como manager not receiving any punishment.
After the game, the 58-year-old Allegri was hugely critical of Fàbregas, who is 20 years his junior.
‘Next time someone is on the line, I’ll also go on the pitch and make a tackle,’ the Milan coach told DAZN.
‘When you are on the pitch you have to be respectful towards your rivals and referees. He is a very young coach, he’s just getting started,’ Allegri added in his post-match news conference:
‘He is doing well. I hope he wins a lot in his career and has all the capability to do so. A young coach like him needs experience. With experience you improve, you mature.’
Cesc Fabregas apologizes for Saelemaekers incident
For his part, Fàbregas was apologetic after the match and admitted wrongdoing.
‘I apologize once again,’ the longtime Arsenal midfielder said.
‘I have already done it publicly. I am not proud of it. I have done something that is probably unsportsmanlike. It is true it was a little touch, you shouldn’t do it, especially a coach.
‘I understand that he [Saelemaekers] was angry. I apologize to the coach [Allegri], I have already done so to [Milan] players Luka [Modrić], [Mike] Maignan and Saelemaekers. I will learn from this and I hope I don’t do it again in my career.’