Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has suggested that Antolin Alcaraz was guilty of a 'cultural misunderstanding' when he spat at Wolves defender Richard Stearman earlier this month.
Defender Alacraz, 29, was issued with a three-match ban for the incident and subsequently issued an apology explaining that he was intending to spit on the ground.
Martinez said that the Paraguayan international, who joined the Latics in May, is still adjusting to living in England.
"I think it was a very unfortunate incident and a bit of a cultural clash as well," he told Sky Sports News. "He's learned his lessons but his reaction was something you cannot condone. It's got different connotations than it could have back in his homeland.
"As a foreigner you come to a new league and a new culture as well. You need need to adapt to things like the weather and new food, and the cultural aspect - what is disrespectful here might not be disrespectful there."
He added: "It is an unfortunate incident that he didn't mean to happen the way it did. But we should accept it, learn from it, and move on."
Wigan, who currently sit bottom of the table, next play host to Blackburn when the League resumes on Saturday.
Neil Wilkes
