London , England ( CNN ) -- Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone took a `` good whacking '' when he and his girlfriend were violently mugged in London , he tells the Daily Express newspaper Saturday . `` I 'm feeling it now , bit painful , it was a good whacking , '' Ecclestone told the paper in the only interview he has given so far about the ordeal . The Express carried a picture of Ecclestone with a badly bruised right eye that was purple and swollen . The attack took place Wednesday night outside his offices in London 's exclusive Knightsbridge neighborhood , after he had been to a restaurant with girlfriend Fabiana Flosi , the paper reported . The muggers punched the 80-year-old billionaire in the face several times and kicked him in the head as he lay on the ground , he said . They also ripped the earrings off his girlfriend 's ears . London 's Metropolitan Police confirmed to CNN that a man and woman were robbed of jewelry including two watches and a pair of earrings on Wednesday night . They said officers do not believe the man was targeted because of who he is and that it appeared to be an opportunistic incident . '' The man was taken to a hospital for treatment to a minor head injury , the police said . `` I drove as I often do and we had just got out of the car when suddenly these guys laid into me , '' Ecclestone told the paper . `` They said nothing to me , just went on the attack , so there was no chance to feel scared or react . `` When I was on the ground I could hear Fabiana screaming for help and I took a kick or two in the head and went unconscious . `` When I came to there was blood everywhere from my head wound but I was lucky . They were n't worried about taking my eye out or head injuries when they were kicking . `` It was completely stupid and uncalled for . If they had confronted me and asked for everything we had , I would have handed over everything in my pockets , my wallet , anything . '' British news reports had said the stolen jewelry was worth several hundred thousand dollars , but Ecclestone denied it , saying , `` They wo n't be going far on what they took off us . '' `` I never carry much money or expensive jewelry , '' he said . `` Most of Fabiana 's stuff was just personal from Brazil and not worth much . '' The injuries forced Ecclestone to cancel a shooting trip with Spain 's King Juan Carlos I this weekend , he said . Police were still searching for the suspects .
He told a British reporter he took a ` ` good . '' He and his girlfriend were arrested in London this week . He is sporting a black eye after being punched and kicked .