Pepe says sorry for stamp on Messi’s hand

REAL MADRID defender Pepe has apologised for his apparent stamp on Lionel Messi’s hand in Wednesday night’s 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona.

But the Portugal international has insisted the act, which was missed at the time by the referee, was “unintentional”.

The 28-year-old was branded “shameful” and “embarrassing” in the Spanish press following the incident during the Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu, which came when Messi was lying on the ground.