Wolves captain Mario Lemina has publicly apologized after a heated confrontation following his team’s 2-1 loss to West Ham on Monday night.
The match, held at the London Stadium, saw West Ham secure all three points, with Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen finding the net for the hosts.
Matt Doherty had briefly leveled for Wolves after Soucek’s opener.
Despite the equalizer, Wolves were left to absorb their 10th Premier League defeat of the season, keeping them in 19th place on the table.
The Clash After the Final Whistle
Tempers flared after the final whistle when Lemina and West Ham’s Bowen became involved in a physical altercation during the post-match handshake.
The two captains were seen wrestling to the ground.
As the situation escalated, Lemina pushed away teammates Nelson Semedo and Toti before confronting Shaun Derry, Wolves’ first-team coach.
Lemina’s Apology
Taking to social media the next day, Lemina expressed regret for his actions, apologizing to the club and Derry.
In an Instagram post, he explained that he never intended for the altercation to unfold.
He described himself as a fair player, even in defeat, and emphasized that he was only reacting to a situation he did not cause.
“I shook this player’s hand like I always do, and I was grabbed and thrown to the ground,” Lemina stated.
“I just reacted to a situation that I didn’t cause at all. I love my team, the staff, and everyone involved with this club. We’re going to fight harder to overcome this situation.”
Bowen’s Response
West Ham’s captain, Jarrod Bowen, offered his take on the altercation, suggesting that Lemina was to blame.
He recounted the incident, stating, “I just went to shake his hand after the game. He didn’t want to shake my hand.
Two captains together just to say ‘well done’ after the game.”
Bowen acknowledged the difficulty of losing, recalling his own experiences in such situations.
O’Neil Speaks Out
Wolves’ manager, Gary O’Neil, also addressed the incident, explaining that Lemina’s frustration stemmed from something that was said during the post-match exchanges.
O’Neil assured that the staff worked quickly to calm the situation, with everyone understanding how emotions can run high in the heat of the moment.
He confirmed that Lemina, known for his passion, was now in a calmer state.
Wolves’ Ongoing Struggles
The defeat has placed Wolves four points adrift of safety, intensifying pressure on O’Neil’s position as manager.
With only nine points on the board, Wolves face a critical match against fellow relegation battlers Ipswich Town this Saturday.
Both teams are tied on points, making the outcome of this clash even more crucial.
Following that, Wolves will face Leicester City, who are five points ahead, in another key battle for survival.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn