Roy Hodgson has insisted Kepa Arrizabalaga was in no way intending to disrespect Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri after refusing to be substituted during Sunday’s League Cup final.
The incident, which occurred during the final minutes of Sunday’s final at Wembley, has led to Kepa being fined a week’s wages.
The Spaniard has also issued an apology after he refused to leave the field of play for Willy Caballero ahead of a penalty shoot-out.
The Blues went on to lose on penalties to Manchester City and the 24-year-old goalkeeper came under fire from several pundits, with former Blues striker Chris Sutton claiming: “Kepa should never play for Chelsea again.”
Hodgson, however, believes situations like the one on Sunday can easily occur and he does not blame either party for what happened.
“It was highly dramatised wasn’t it. I feel very sorry for both parties,” said the Crystal Palace boss.
“I felt sorry for the manager of course, who didn’t really understand perhaps what Kepa was trying to say.
“And I felt very sorry for Kepa, who was obviously just trying to point out - don’t take me off because you think I am injured when I am not.
“It is one of those situations that can easily occur.
“It has made for a very dramatic event, but I have got to say it didn’t have quite the same effect on me as it has on other people.
“I don’t for one minute believe that the player was in any way intending to disrespect his manager.
“And I think the manager was acting very much in good faith, thinking he needed to replace the player.
“All of this is taking place in one of the most emotional moments of the game. You are four or five minutes away from the end of the game, a shoot-out is looming, it is extremely emotional.
“Unfortunately what we saw is what drama and emotion football can still bring to us all.
“I am just pleased that the club has obviously sorted the situation out and I am more than happy to accept the explanations of both Maurizio Sarri and Kepa have come up with.”
