News Beat
‘Maybe they’ll apologise’ – Frank Lampard speaks out after sparking huge brawl at end of Coventry’s draw at Southampton
FRANK LAMPARD has spoken out after sparking a huge brawl after full-time between Coventry and Southampton.
The Sky Blues were held to a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s on Saturday as Saints man Nathan Wood‘s header cancelled out Ephron Mason-Clark’s opener.
Tempers boiled over on the pitch after the match ended, after Lampard gestured towards the home crowd.
The Chelsea legend had been taunted with chants of being a “s*** Steven Gerrard” from the stand behind him.
Lampard, 47, in response, decided to give a sarcastic thumbs-up back to the fans.
However, this angered Southampton player Leo Scienza, who went after the Coventry manager.
Their argument then sparked a huge brawl between players and coaches from both teams.
The brawl lasted for almost 30 seconds before Lampard left and went to applaud the travelling Coventry fans.
Lampard has now apologised for his role in the skirmish and has even insisted the home fans should consider doing the same.
He told Sky Sports: “I’ve got no problem with it, it’s fine. I understand when a player, in front of their own fans, defends the situation.
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“We’ve got this modern-day phenomenon where the fans can say anything to you for the last ten minutes on the line.
“But you’re not allowed to walk on the pitch when you’ve got emotions high.
“Heart on sleeve, I feel a bit calmer now. I apologise for my language, and maybe that stand will apologise for their language.
“I’m well and truly over that one and it got a bit heated but sometimes you take those 99 minutes and you’re hanging on and seeing the players do what they do, and I feel I live it with them.
“I went on the pitch, that’s my prerogative.
“I can look back and reflect on it but yeah, like I say, fans can say one thing, but we’re the ones in the arena fighting for something and we got a point.”
It will be a happy Christmas for Lampard and Coventry as title rivals Middlesbrough were beaten 2-0 at Bristol City.
This leaves the Sky Blues six points clear at the top of the Championship table.
Coventry are favourites for promotion and a first return to the Premier League since 2001.
Since dropping out of the top flight, the Sky Blues have been all the way down to League Two before climbing back up to the second tier.
Lampard’s team will be back in action on Boxing Day when they host Swansea City at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
