Costa Rica coach Paulo Wanchope to step aside after stadium fight

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- Costa Rican national team coach Paulo Wanchope has resigned following involvement in a fistfight in Panama.

Wanchope was watching his country's under-23 team play in Panama on Tuesday when the scuffle broke out.

Costa Rica's soccer federation said in a statement Wednesday that Wanchope had decided to ''step aside.''

Local news reports indicate Wanchope was irritated at refereeing during Tuesday night's pre-Olympic match, which ended 0-0.

Video of the incident shows Wanchope angrily opening a gate to the field and shoving a youth standing behind it, while apparently receiving a shove from a man standing beside the gate. Wanchope then turns and punches the man, who kicks and hits him before police intervene.