Oops
Bayer Leverkusen winger Jeremie Frimpong has apologised for kicking a bouquet of flowers laid ceremonially by the pitch at AtlΓ©tico 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 HincapiΓ©, and as Frimpong went to join his celebrating teammates, he kicked the flowers, angering the home fans and AtlΓ©tico's players.
The flowers have been placed by a corner flag at AtlΓ©tico's stadium -- now the Metropolitano, and previously the Vicente CalderΓ³n -- 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."