Robert Pires 'punched in the face' by opposition head coach in ISL

Former Arsenal star Robert Pires has reportedly claimed that he was "punched" in the face by an opposition head coach during the half-time interval of an Indian Super League match.

The 40-year-old, who plays for FC Goa, is said to have told his club's head coach Zico that he was hit by Atletico de Kolkata coach Antonio Lopez Habas in the tunnel midway through his side's 2-1 defeat on Thursday.

"Pires said he was punched on the face by the Atletico coach and it is very shameful," The Independent quotes Zico as saying.

"I am telling you what my players told me and I didn't see that myself but I don't think that Pires will lie and say something that didn't happen."

The ISL have confirmed that they are looking into the allegations.