Pepe apologizes for 'unintentional' stamp on Messi's hand

Pepe has apologised for 'unintentional' stamp on the hand of Lionel Messi during a 2-1 home defeat for Real Madrid by Barcelona.

in a statement on the club's website, Pepe said: "I wish to say yesterday's incident with Leo Messi was unintentional, but I nevertheless want to apologise to him if he was offended because all I do is defend my team and this institution. I give my heart and soul, and the thought of hurting a colleague has never entered my mind."

After the match, the Real Madrid coach, José Mourinho, said Pepe had played well for the team, but warned he would be punished if it was found he had deliberately stamped on Messi.

"I haven't seen it, but obviously if it is deliberate he will be punished," Mourinho said. "What I can say is that he did a great job for the team."

In the 68th minute of their Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg, Messi was on the ground after being fouled by José Callejón when Pepe appeared to deliberately tread on the left hand of the world player of the year.

The referee booked Callejón but took no action against Pepe, who was on a yellow card. Both managers claimed not to have witnessed the flashpoint

A Spanish Paper wrote that the behaviour of the Portuguese international was "shameful" and "intolerable" and suggested Pepe's long disciplinary record calls into question whether he should remain at the club.