• International football

Mascherano apologises for kicking medic

ESPN staff
June 12, 2013
Mascherano sent off for kicking medical car driver

Former Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano received a straight red card on Tuesday after kicking the driver of a medical buggy during Argentina's 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Ecuador.

Mascherano was handed his marching orders by referee Enrique Caceres in the 86th-minute of the match at Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa.

The Barcelona player was being taken off the field in the final minutes of the game only to kick out at the medic before getting off the buggy and reacting angrily, and then receive a red card.

Reflecting on the incident, Mascherano said: "I feel ashamed. You must always be against violence. The truth is I made a mistake. It is not nice that you get sent off in such a way, and generate such a controversy."

Asked why he reacted as he did, Mascherano said: "The cart was going too quickly, I was moving around and thought I might fall. We told the medic to go slower, he ignored me and I reacted. But, I repeat, it was not justified."

The game ended in a 1-1 stalemate after Sergio Aguero's fourth-minute penalty was cancelled out by Segundo Castillo in the first half.

The result sees Argentina top of their qualifying group after 13 matches played, three points above Colombia who have a game in hand.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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