FORMER Oxford United manager Pep Clotet has defended his reaction after grabbing hold of one of his own players’ shirts and forcefully shaking him following a red card.

Clotet, who was appointed U’s boss in July 2017 after Michael Appleton left to become assistant manager at Leicester City, and was then sacked the following January, is now in charge of Serie C bottom side Triestina in Italy.

In a home clash against Giana Erminio, Triestina forward Raimonds Krollis, on loan from Spezia, was shown a straight red card in the 34th minute after reacting to a tussle with Luca Ferri.

A video circulated widely on social media shows Krollis heading down the tunnel, before Clotet grabs the front of the player’s shirt with both hands and then shakes the striker, who doesn’t retaliate.

In quotes published on the Triestina club website, Clotet said: “I think regarding the incident with the red card, the reaction was justified. That sending off should never happen in football.

“Krollis is here on loan, representing another club that sent him here, and he does this to Triestina, to the club that entrusted him to us, and to the game itself.

“What went through my mind? To tell you the truth, I have an eight-year-old son who saw this.

“I come from a culture where this kind of behaviour is simply unacceptable. If a player does something like this on the street, there would be legal consequences.

“It’s not normal, and we must not accept it in any way. Out of respect for myself as a coach, Krollis is finished with Triestina.

“I told him exactly this face-to-face. With me as coach, he’s done with Triestina.”

Clotet’s side held firm following the red card, but conceded in the closing stages when Gabriel Avinci tapped in a cross.