Oops
Bayer Leverkusen winger Jeremie Frimpong has apologised for kicking a bouquet of flowers laid ceremonially by the pitch at Atlético Madrid's Metropolitano stadium, saying he got "carried away with excitement."
Visitors Leverkusen went ahead in the 46th minute in Tuesday's Champions League game through defender Piero Hincapié, and as Frimpong went to join his celebrating teammates, he kicked the flowers, angering the home fans and Atlético's players.
The flowers have been placed by a corner flag at Atlético's stadium -- now the Metropolitano, and previously the Vicente Calderón -- since 1996 by fan Margarita Luengo, as a tribute to club legend Milinko Pantic, who was famed for his corner deliveries.
"After the game yesterday, I learned about the tradition of the bouquet of flowers at the Metropolitano," Frimpong posted on X on Wednesday. "I didn't know about it and at the time of the goal, I got carried away with excitement and I made a mistake. Sorry to Atletico's fans, and especially to Margarita."