The coach of the Colombian national team apologized to the woman. © EuroFootball.com

Colombian national team coach Hernan Dario Gomez apologized for hitting a woman who criticized his work.

Witnesses say the strategist slapped the intoxicated woman in the face on Saturday night outside a bar.

"I want to publicly express my deep regret for my behavior. I have lost my self-respect," said the 55-year-old man.

"There is no justification for this under any circumstances, especially from someone who has been working in professional football for 26 years. I am ashamed in front of my mother, wife, all the women in the country, and the state," he added.