When a Sprint Goes Viral: Girona Star Admits Accidentally Stomping on Koundé in La Liga Drama
17 February 2026
Incident on the Pitch
Claudio Echeverri, the Girona star, responded to accusations that he stomped on Barcelona defender Jules Koundé during the buildup to Girona's second goal. The moment occurred in the 80th minute of a La Liga clash, when a scramble near Barcelona's box saw Echeverri's foot collide with Koundé's, triggering a flurry of protests.
Reaction and Aftermath
The Blaugrana vehemently challenged the decision of referee Soto Grado, not only at the moment but also in the post-match remarks. Echeverri later spoke on the Spanish show El Chiringuito, showing the clip on his phone and saying, "Yes... I trampled Koundé's foot by mistake. It wasn't intentional; I was sprinting at full speed. If the referee had called a foul on me, I would have understood the decision... Anyway, we were lucky and we won."
Barcelona's bid for La Liga's top spot took a hit as they fell 2-1 to Girona. With 58 points, they trailed Real Madrid, who lead the table with 60.
As a final touch of levity, here are two sniper-style punchlines to cap the moment: "My footwork is so fast I outrun the truth." "In football, as in life, fast feet meet slow decisions—and the ref always has the last laugh."
