Empoli captain Massimo Maccarone has claimed that Atalanta’s German Denis punched Lorenzo Tonelli in the changing rooms, following the sides playing out a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on Sunday afternoon.
The Azzurri had been leading until the dying moments of the game, when Denis found himself on the end of an Urby Emanuelson cross to steal a point for the Nerazzurri.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia after the game, Maccarone accused the Atalanta captain of punching the 25-year-old defender.
“I think that Denis is a coward,” the 35-year-old assertively stated.
“He threw a punch at Tonelli from behind in the changing rooms,” he continued.
Maccarone went on to reveal some more details of the incident.
“There were no lights in the locker room,” he stated.
“It was as if it was all set so nobody saw what happened.
“He [Denis] came in, hit Lorenzo and then ran away.”
The two players had been involved in an on-field dispute, but Maccarone insists that it should not have spilled over into the changing rooms.
“The players had an argument on the field,” Maccarone revealed.
“It was nothing that justified punches to be thrown.”
Maccarone, too, scored in the game, the goal marked his ninth goal of the Serie A campaign.
