Two rival players got into a fistfight, after they were sent off during an exciting match in the final round of the Salvadoran Football League yesterday, Monday, due to their exit together from the players' corridor, where they entered into a discussion that quickly developed into a fight and an exchange of punches.

According to press reports, one of the players bit the ear of the other, which led to an exchange of punches with fists between them.

And spread on social media, a video clip of the moment when the quarrel occurred between Rodolfo Zelaya, player of Alianza Football Club, and his opponent, Ronald Padilla from Club Deportivo Platense, which caused tension in the match between the two teams.

Luego de la expulsión de Rodolfo Zelaya y Ronald Padilla.

pic.twitter.com/Q7UVz2PXQA

— Club Deportivo Platense (@platense_cd) January 29, 2023

The two players were expelled in the second half after a clash between them on the field during the implementation of one of the corner kicks, and after an argument with the referee and their exit from the stadium, and while heading towards the corridor leading to the changing rooms in the 65th minute, Zelaya and Padilla completed the conversation, and at the entrance to the tunnel the dispute extended between them into a fistfight. As a result, the security forces had to intervene and separate them.

¡TERRIBLE!

🚫 Fuerte pelea entre Fito Zelaya and Ronald Padilla.

🚨 pic.twitter.com/h4wz4WZ5FS

- Canal 4 (@Canal4TCS) January 29, 2023

As a result, the match stopped for several minutes after the players of the two teams entered into skirmishes on the field. Later, the situation was controlled and the atmosphere calmed down, and the referee decided to resume playing.

arbitral error

The decision to leave the same place after they quarreled in the stadium, and even one of them standing at the door of the players’ corridor leading to the dressing room, is considered an administrative error by the referees, especially the arena referee and the fourth referee, as the referee should have taken care to remove the players from the stadium in a way that ensures that they do not meet again in the corridor. He also had to follow up with the fourth referee, as it is one of the latter's official duties.

Article 12 of the Football Law “Mistakes and Misconduct” stipulates that the player who is expelled must go directly outside the boundaries of the field to the dressing room and never return to the field during the match, otherwise he will be subject to additional penalties.

However, in the event that two or more players are expelled for their involvement in a quarrel inside or outside the stadium, the referee must deal wisely so that the players do not meet again in order to avoid a recurrence of the quarrel.

The exciting match ended with Alianza winning 3-0, one of which was scored by the expelled player Zelaya at the end of the first half of the match.

Comunicado.

#RZ22 pic.twitter.com/Yt4C0vHEIK

- Fito Zelaya (@FitoZelaya22) January 30, 2023

After the end of the match, the two players issued statements through their personal accounts on the platforms, in which they confirmed their apologies to the clubs and the fans for the “inappropriate” behavior that occurred from them.

In turn, both clubs issued a separate statement to each of them, expressing their regret for what the two players did, stressing that Zelaya and Padilla will face disciplinary measures related to the regulations of the two teams, in addition to their compliance with the penalty that will be decided by the arbitration committee.

  • Former international referee

#ComunicadoOficial pic.twitter.com/ZzroGZWlJi

— Club Deportivo Platense (@platense_cd) January 30, 2023

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐎 𝐎𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋:


Rodolfo Zelaya.

#AlianzaFC 🅰️ #DaleAlbo pic.twitter.com/4gFstR2fld

- Alianza Football Club (@AlianzaFC_sv) January 30, 2023

Declaraciones de Ronald Padilla luego de su trifulca con el jugador albo pic.twitter.com/VMj433gkom

- Los Ex del futbol (@losexdelfutbol) January 30, 2023