Real Madrid and Roma brawl after Seydou Keita and Pepe reignite feud

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/30/pepe-syedou-keita-row-real-madrid-roma

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It was supposed to be a pre-season friendly but tempers flared before a ball had been kicked between Real Madrid and Roma in Dallas.

It happened after Seydou Keita and Pepe reignited their feud with the Mali international refusing to shake hands with Pepe in the usual pre-match routine. Keita also threw a water bottle in the direction of Pepe before the International Champions Cup game.

The pair have had a troubled relationship ever since Keita’s time at Barcelona, when he accused Pepe of racism after a Spanish Supercup clásico in 2011.

Keita appears to still hold a grudge against the Real defender. He saw him coming in the pre-match handshakes and blatantly refused to follow suit and threw a water bottle which narrowly missed the Portugal international.

Pepe remained clam but Keita’s actions caused a minor brawl on the pitch which calmed down after Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso acted as peacemakers.

Roma won 1-0 with a well-taken, second-half goal from Francesco Totti, meaning Real cannot retain the trophy.