BUENOS AIRES, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Argentinian side Sarmiento de Junin's coach Ricardo Caruso Lombardi got involved in a fist fight with his team's fans after losing 1-0 to Rosario Central on Monday evening.
The incident took place at a service station close to the city of Rosario, located 300 kilometers north of Buenos Aires, when a group of fans insulted the coach and players on their way home from the match.
"They began to provoke me, bad mouthing myself and the players. I could not let them go on that way. They complained about the defeat and asked why we were heading towards relegation," the coach told a local radio station.
Caruso Lombardi had got off the team bus to take photos with a group of fans when "one began to say things to me. I looked at him and asked him what was wrong with him. He said that I was scared and that we (the team) were going to be relegated. Twice I asked him if he was being serious," said the coach.
"This lasted five minutes. I had seen these people before in Junin, they came to the pitch. Maybe they are annoyed about the relegation and they came to get their own justice. I do not regret it," added the coach.
Caruso Lombardi, 54, is known for his histrionic style and he has coached numerous clubs in different Argentinian soccer categories.
Recently he was hired by Sarmiento, a club from the province of Buenos Aires, to try to prevent the team from relegating into the second division.
After eight matches in the tournament, the team is currently last in Zone A with 5 points.