Roberto D'Aversa: Lecce condemn manager after headbutting opposition player

Lecce have won once in their past 12 games

Serie A club Lecce have "strongly condemned" the actions of manager Roberto D'Aversa after he headbutted Verona striker Thomas Henry on Sunday.

Italian D'Aversa, 48, received a red card following the incident, which happened at the end of Lecce's 1-0 loss to their relegation rivals.

D'Aversa headbutted Henry, who was also sent off, as the French forward headed towards the dressing room.

Lecce boss D'Aversa said his actions were "inexcusable".

In a statement Lecce said the club "strongly condemns the actions of its manager which are against our values and the those of sport".

Tempers had flared between players and staff from both teams at the final whistle at Lecce's Stadio Via del mare.

"I went on to the pitch to try and stop my players being sent off as Verona were provoking us a lot in the final moments of the match and after the final whistle," D'Aversa told Sky Sports.

But on the incident, he added: "It wasn't a nice thing to do, I know that. It's inexcusable and I've been to explain my actions to Verona. I didn't come on the pitch to do that."

The defeat saw Lecce drop to 15th in Serie A, two places below Verona, and left them just one point above the bottom three in a tight relegation battle.