FC Sion president faces probe for "sorting out" issue with reporter
Christian Constantin was caught on camera attacking Rolf Fringer following criticisism of his leadership. "I grabbed him and I kicked him in the backside."
FC Sion president Christian Constantin faces an investigation by the Swiss Football League after being filmed attacking a journalist who had termed his running of the club “ridiculous.”
Constantin said after the incident that he had "sorted out" a difference between the pair.
Part of the attack was caught on camera and showed commentator Rolf Fringer, already on the ground, being slapped on the head by the 60-year-old Constantin, shortly after Sion's 2-1 win at Lugano.
Soon afterwards, Constantin told cable broadcaster Teleclub that Fringer, a former coach of the Swiss national side, had criticised him and treated him badly earlier in the week.
"Now, I've sorted that out," Constantin said. "I grabbed him and I kicked him in the backside. When you are attacked, you have to defend yourself."
Swiss Football League to look into attack
The SFL confirmed it would open disciplinary proceedings into the incident.
"As the television pictures show, Sion president Christian Constantin was involved in a physical altercation with Teleclub football expert Rolf Fringer. Constantin confirmed the incident in a television interview," the governing body said in a statement.
Earlier in the week, Fringer had criticised Constantin's leadership of FC Sion, describing it as "ridiculous".
Fringer, whose has also coached a number of clubs including Greek side PAOK, said he was hit in the face and tripped over the camera when he tried to escape.
"I'm still shocked," he said. "You just don't imagine something like that happening."