The Real Madrid vs AS Roma match (0-1) on July 30, 2014, was marked by a tense pre-match altercation between Seydou Keita and Pepe, reigniting long-standing tensions between the two players stemming from their time in La Liga.
🔥 What Happened?
Seydou Keita refused to shake Pepe’s hand during the teams’ lineup protocol.
Moments later, Keita threw a water bottle at Pepe, causing a brief scuffle. Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso stepped in to criticize Keita, but the situation eventually calmed down.
🗣️ Keita’s Explanation
Keita took to Twitter shortly after the incident, posting:
“1. He called me a monkey at Madrid-Barça
2. I didn’t shake his hand
3. He spat at me
then I threw the bottle at him
sorry for my attitude”
— @skeitaofficiel
This tweet provided context for his actions, citing racial abuse by Pepe during a 2011 El Clásico as the reason for his refusal and reaction.
📽️ Video Footage
The incident was caught on video and widely shared, further fueling debate among fans and media.
Watch it here: YouTube – Keita vs Pepe Altercation
⚠️ Context
The incident dates back to a Spanish Super Cup match in 2011, when Keita claimed Pepe used a racial slur (“monkey”) during the heated Real Madrid vs Barcelona clash.
Pepe has had a reputation for on-pitch aggression and controversy, and this altercation revived discussions about racism and behavior in football.
This clash not only overshadowed the friendly match but also reopened conversations about respect, racism, and personal accountability in the sport.
