Lazio defender Luiz Felipe has apologized for the actions that got him a red card following the Biancocelesti’s defeat of Inter at the Stadio Olimpico yesterday.

Writing in an Instagram post, the Brazilian explained that he had meant the actions as an innocent joke with his friend and former teammate Joaquin Correa but that it had been an inappropriate action for which he had accidentally showed disrespect.

The ending to yesterday’s match had become fractious following disputes between the sets of players around the Biancocelesti’s second goal, which had seen players for both teams go into the book.

With the mood already sour, Felipe decided to jump on the back of his opponent on the night Correa, which he had explained had been meant as a joke to console the player who he had spent three seasons together with at Lazio.

However, Correa seemed annoyed by the gesture, and referee Massimiliano Irrati deemed it to be unsportsmanlike enough conduct to issue a post-match dismissal which will see Felipe suspended for the Biancocelesti’s next match.

After the incident Felipe wrote,”I would like to comment on the negative consequences in relation to what happened today, at the end of the match. First of all, I want to clarify that I have great respect for Inter and for all clubs.”

“We are all professionals,” he continued, “working to pursue our goals and we would never fail to respect another professional. At the end of the game I ended up jumping on Tucu’s shoulders because he is one of the best friends that football has given me.”

“Our families they are friends and we have always been very close,” he went on. “There, what I wanted most was to hug him and joke about the result, as far as our friendship allows, but I got excited. Maybe looking back, it wasn’t the best time or the most suitable place.”

He concluded, “I apologize to anyone who has felt offended and I clarify that I have not tried, in any way, to be disrespectful towards him, towards the other athletes or towards the club of Internazionale and its passionate fans. It was an innocent act, from a person who has a great affection for the Tucu!!”