Pepe apologises for 'unintentional' stamp on Lionel Messi's hand

The Real Madrid defender Pepe has apologised for his apparent stamp on Lionel Messi's hand in last night's 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona, but 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.

And 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."