In the Swiss Cup between Zug 94 and FC Zurich, there was a scandal that ended with a player’s father throwing an umbrella at coach Ricardo Moniz. The club responded in a statement that evening.
Ricardo Moniz narrowly escaped an umbrella attack in the cup match. IMAGO/Geisser
The 2-0 victory over Zug 94 of FC Zurich, currently leaders of the Swiss Super League, quickly became a minor matter as things became rather turbulent. After an hour, coach Ricardo Moniz brought on 19-year-old Labinot Bajrami. But after 20 minutes, the game was over. Bajrami was substituted again – the ultimate punishment for a player unless the measure is for tactical reasons. However, it was not due to his performance, as the club has now emphasized.
“After the player responded to instructions from head coach Ricardo Moniz with very vulgar language, the head coach decided to take the player off the field after 20 minutes,” FCZ said.
Legal action against father?
While the player angrily left the field, things got turbulent on the sidelines and an umbrella was thrown in Moniz’s direction. But the thrower was not just a nameless spectator. “As it quickly turned out, it was the father of the substituted player who attacked the FCZ head coach. We condemn this action in the strongest possible terms and reserve the right to take legal action together with Ricardo Moniz,” the club announced.
Moniz told SRF in an interview after the game: “I have never experienced anything like this before. This will have consequences. This is not good for the talent.”
Furthermore, there were no accusations whatsoever against the host club, which Zurich explicitly emphasized. “Both the club and its spectators proved to be extremely friendly, well-organized and respectful hosts.”
Three players already substituted in and out
However, there are also critical voices about Moniz’s behavior, who once managed HSV on an interim basis. Doron Leidner (played for 20 minutes) and Jonathan Okita (only played 17 minutes) also suffered a similar fate under Moniz in the still young season.
Due to heavy rain before kick-off, the match was on the verge of being cancelled. In hindsight, it might have been better for everyone involved…
