Lecce has terminated the contract of Roberto D’Aversa following an altercation with Hellas Verona striker Thomas Henry, culminating in an attempted headbutt during Sunday’s match. The dismissal of D’Aversa was officially announced by Lecce through a statement released on their official website on Monday morning.
The decision to part ways with D’Aversa was made in response to the events that unfolded at the conclusion of the Lecce-Verona match. Tensions flared after Verona emerged victorious, with Henry engaging in a confrontation with Lecce defender Marin Pongracic in the dying minutes of the game before further confrontation with D’Aversa post-match.
The incident saw the Italian coach physically engage with the French forward, resulting in both individuals being shown straight red cards. Lecce publicly condemned D’Aversa’s actions, while the coach cited provocation from the Hellas Verona striker.
The sacking of D’Aversa was widely anticipated by numerous Italian sources, and Lecce formally confirmed their decision on Monday morning. Additionally, D’Aversa is anticipated to face a significant ban, compounded by Lecce’s poor performance, having secured just one victory in their last twelve matches.
Leonardo Semplici is being considered as one of the potential candidates to assume the managerial role at the Stadio Via Del Mare for the remaining ten games of the season.