Things got heated between Jose Riveiro and Ernst Middendorp during Orlando Pirates Cape Town Spurs' draw...
Here's a look at what started the touchline fracas!
What's the story?
Cape Town Spurs boss had a war of words with Orlando Pirates' head coach, Jose Riveiro, in their 1-1 draw at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The two coaches had a bit of a go at each other during stoppage time when Pirates were denied a clear penalty, with Middendorp looking particularly incensed by his Spanish counterpart.
Read: Chiefs Pirates' Social Media Dominance In Danger?
Let's take a closer look...
Jose Vs Ernst: How Did Things Kick Off?
Pirates and Spurs' encounter at the Orlando Stadium may have lacked that spark on the pitch, but tensions ended on a high note on the touchline between the opposing coaches.
The pair were seen exchanging some unpleasant words when Jose Riveiro and his coaching staff appealed for penalty around the 94th-minute, resulting in the Spaniard and the Middendorp nearly coming to blows.
Middendorp was initially annoyed with the seven minutes added for stoppage time, after Gabriel Kamagi bagged a sublime equaliser late in the second-half, to cancel out Relebohile Mofokeng's classy finish.
With the German already on edge, he seemingly didn't enjoy Riveiro's appeals for a penalty when Zakhele Lepasa was brought down in the box.
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Here's some footage of the two coaches nearly boxing on the touchline, with the linesman having to try and contain Middendorp:
????another coach war..
— Themba Cushy... (@Themba_Cushy) March 6, 2024
Please ask what coach said to him which made him angry?????? pic.twitter.com/gntDSqyL1c
Here's Middendorp having a pop at Riveiro just before the incident above:
???????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????
— Selebalo Karabo Phasha (@TheeSportsGuy01) March 6, 2024
Cape Town Spurs Head Coach Ernst Middendorp UPSET with Orlando Pirates Head Coach Jose Riviero #OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/YQoiFDsPvt
Middendorp was reluctant to reveal the details behind his confrontation with Riveiro, but was sure throw shade at the Spaniard and other DStv Premiership coaches:
"I don't know what it was about. It was a fantastic time when you had colleagues like Trapattoni, Otto Rehhagel, Franz Beckenbauer, Jürgen Klopp and so on, I can continue. I coached in the Bundesliga over years and I've never seen something like this, I don't know what it is but somebody [Riveiro] wanted a reaction and he got it," said Middendorp after the match, according to Idiski Times.
"Colleagues being colleagues in the soccer industry in particular here in SA, it's not existing, let's be clear and very honest," he added.
This how fans on social media reacted to the incident:
Yhoo
— Sandile Dhlomo (@DhlomoV) March 7, 2024
German shepherd was angry, mos ... But Jose doesn't look like a troublemaker
Kanti, what happened https://t.co/Fg0q23KjOy
What was the fight about ? Was he crying that Jose was complaining he didn't get a penalty? I'm so glad Jose is a matured coach he never went to the media to cry about the incident he kept his cool and blamed himself and his players. If the same incident had happened to this…
— ISHMAEL ?????????????????? (@mr_shimmy) March 7, 2024
This one thinks he can fight nje.. he's too full of himself pic.twitter.com/p6MkXV1chf
— JustAnotherJohnDoe (@salim_sgo) March 7, 2024
Midderndorp wants to issue hands to Spanish Thobejane ????
— Thando (@Ta_Fitty) March 6, 2024
"You can't win the game, that's not a foul and now you are fighting for a Penalty, f***k off, bull**
— BRA_O WA LE SANDAWANA???????? (@Owen_sandawana) March 7, 2024
Ersnt Middendorp shouting at Jose Riviero during the Penalty call ???????? #Dstvprem pic.twitter.com/PcPz6MJPiC
Coach Ernst Middendorp having none of it!#DSTVPREMIERSHIP #zandilegumede #SenzoMeyiwaTrial #juliusmalema pic.twitter.com/teLiFycckE
— Javas Nkambule (@javasnkambule) March 7, 2024
??????
— Obakeng (@ObakengMagobolo) March 6, 2024
They're standing in for Rhulani and Ramovic.
Plumbers are angry at each other, beautiful to see.
— Kwanele (@KwaneleTreble) March 6, 2024
Have your say on Middendorp and Riveiro's clash...
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