Bus brawl leads to Ben-Hatira's Hertha exit
Tunisia international Anis Ben-Hatira on Tuesday admitted he regrets starting the scuffle with former Hertha Berlin team-mate Mitchell Weiser which led to him being sold to Eintracht Frankfurt. "I did something which was not okay and can no longer be corrected," said a remorseful Ben-Hatira in a press conference for new club Frankfurt having been given a contract only until June after a free transfer from Berlin. "Unfortunately, it happened and I can't change it anymore, but, from my side, it will never happen again. "I have apologised. I don't really want to say any more about it." Ben-Hatira found himself transferred to Frankfurt after the attacking midfielder fought with Weiser on the Hertha team bus on the way back to Berlin following Saturday's 3-3 draw at Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. Third-placed Hertha threw away a two-goal lead in Bremen and tensions erupted on the long drive back to Berlin, which triggered Ben-Hatira's swift exit from the club. "I had the chance to stay with Hertha, but the chance in Frankfurt was found and I am really happy that it has worked out," he added having made 70 league appearances for Berlin in the last five years. After reporters in Frankfurt kept asking about his brawl with Weiser, Eintracht coach Armin Veh abruptly cut the press conference off. Both Ben-Hatira, who has yet to play a German league game this season, and 20-year-old defender Yanni Reagaesel, who signed a deal until 2019, joined Frankfurt from Berlin before the transfer window closed on Monday. "Anis Ben-Hatira and his advisor have both explained to us that there was a scuffle," explained Frankfurt's sports director Bruno Huebner. "Anyone who has played football knows that these things can happen in football. "Anis has apologised. We know his character and that it was an exceptional situation." According to German daily Bild, Hertha coach Pal Dardai decided Ben-Hatira no longer had a future at the club after a meeting with his senior players. In a statement on Hertha's home page, the club confirmed the brawl had taken place. "Hertha Berlin responded immediately and drawn the appropriate conclusions," said the statement. Hertha say they then acted because "fairness, decency, respect and team spirit are part of our the most important principles in the team".
