Contrite Guerrero wants to apologise to fan in person

Banned Hamburg striker Paolo Guerrero said Wednesday he wants to apologise to the fan he struck in the face with a water bottle and has described the incident as the ‘biggest mistake’ of his career.

The 26-year-old has been banned for Hamburg’s remaining Bundesliga games this season and fined 20,000 euros by the German Football Federation (DFB) for hurling the plastic bottle at a fan.

Hamburg are set to appeal the DFB’s Bundesliga ban, although Guerrero is still eligible for his side’s Europa League semi-final, first leg, against Fulham on April 22, with the final set to be held in Hamburg on May 12.

The incident occured when the player retaliated after the fan had hurled insults at Guerrero over the team’s poor showing in a 0-0 draw with Hanover 96 on April 4, but the striker says he regrets his actions.

“My behaviour in the Hanover match was the biggest mistake of my life … I am still shocked when I see the footage,” Guerrero told Sport Bild with his contract at Hamburg set to expire on June 30.

“I still can not understand my reaction, this has never happened to me before.

“I made a mistake which will never happen again. But it is not nice either to be insulted by your own fans.”

The Peru striker is contrite and wants to make amends to the fan.

“I would like to meet the fan, apologise, give him tickets and invite him for a trip in my Ferrari,” he added.

“I want there to be more respect between players and fans.”