According to "Sport," Almeria defeated Castellon 3-2 at home, with a corner kick goal in the 94th minute of injury time helping the team reach the promotion final.
However, what truly sparked heated discussions on social media was a scene after the goal: after Almeria secured promotion, Nico Melamed, who came on as a substitute for 15 minutes and provided the winning assist, directly celebrated in front of Castellon striker Camara.
Immediately after, Barry merely nudged Melamed, who quickly smiled and ran off to celebrate with his teammates. It is believed that this disrespectful act stemmed from Camara's actions towards the stands when the score was 1-2, which greatly displeased the people of Castelledefels.
After the match, fans, and even some Almeria fans, were unable to easily move on, expressing their dissatisfaction with Melamed's unprofessional celebration on social media. Therefore, Melamed issued an apology statement on his Instagram account.
"I want to apologize for my celebratory reaction after assisting the last goal. That image does not represent me; it was due to the tension in the game and some situations in the playoff that I perceived as disrespectful but were not seen by others," Melamed wrote in his Instagram statement. "Even so, I admit it was not the best reaction: respect should always come first."
"Furthermore, I am very proud of this team and these fans. We fought until the end, and we deserve all of this. The best is yet to come," he said, concluding with a message of unity to the fans: "Together," followed by a white heart and a red heart.
Castellon President Applauds Camara
Facing the commotion on and off the field, Castellon President Haralabos Voulgaris did not remain silent. The distinctive president, who accumulated wealth through sports betting and poker, issued a statement on his X account, expressing pride in the work of the players and head coach Pablo Hernandez.
He then added in the statement: "I am also proud of Ousmane Camara. I am usually not easily provoked, but in that situation, I might not have been able to control myself. However, violence is never the answer."
Despite Melamed's apology, this unsightly celebration will remain in people's memories, especially among Castellon fans. Such an act could also harm him in return, as in such circumstances, it is usually best to let football be the protagonist, rather than letting actions and verbal spats steal the show.