Navarro handed lengthy brawl ban

[Mac 10 †]

Navarro handed lengthy brawl ban

Valencia's David Navarro has received a seven-month European ban for his role in the on-pitch brawl in the Champions League game against Inter Milan.
 
Navarro broke the nose of Inter's Nicolas Burdisso, who was banned for six games along with team-mate Maicon.

Valencia's Carlos Marchena was banned for four games, while Inter's Ivan Cordoba and Julio Cruz received three and two-match bans.

Both clubs have also been fined about £106,000 by Uefa.

Uefa's disciplinary body announced the decision on Wednesday after examining the official reports of the delegate and referee, along with video evidence.

And the European world governing body said it would now ask Fifa to extend the suspension on Navarro to international level so that it also applies to any football competitions - including domestic leagues and national-team fixtures.

The various parties have three days to appeal against the decisions once they have received written notice of the decisions.

Uefa opted not to impose a stadium ban on Valencia, who play Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Valencia progressed on away goals after a 0-0 draw in the second leg at the Mestralla, but the result was overshadowed by events on the final whistle.

Valencia midfielder Marchena appeared to kick out at Burdisso after exchanging words.

The incident sparked the brawl and Navarro, a substitute who had not featured in the match, ran on to the middle of the pitch and punched Burdisso.

Several Inter players tried to kick Navarro as he ran off the pitch and the fighting continued in the tunnel and outside the dressing rooms.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini has dubbed Navarro "a coward" for his act.

Mancini said: "There's nothing else you can say about someone who throws a punch like that and runs away."

Navarro has said sorry for his role in the fracas and offered to go to Italy to apologise to Burdisso in person.

He said: "I want to say sorry for what happened, what I did was not good.

"It was a lack of respect for the football world and that's why I wanted to ask forgiveness from the Inter player.

"If I need to go to Italy to say sorry, I will.

"This is a bad time for me, nothing like this has happened before because I am not a violent person. I am setting a bad example."

Valencia's Italian defender Emiliano Moretti has expressed his surprise at his team-mate's actions.

"Navarro is a perfectly normal person and I don't know what would cause him to do such a thing," he told Italian television.

[Boo-Yaa †]

hmmm, he maybe shulda got a longer ban that that?

[KURUPTION-81]

hmmm, he maybe shulda got a longer ban that that?

There was a guy who plays for bristol rovers (i think) who went to jail for 3 months for a similar incident.

[Noname]

Dont yall think 7 months is a bit long. He only punched him once. Its not that bad.

[Mac 10 †]

Dont yall think 7 months is a bit long. He only punched him once. Its not that bad.

It was a good one tho

[gav09]

7 months is a long ban, but dude woz out of order, he dint even play in the match!!!

[Sweet & Tender Hooligan]

If he done it on th street he would be doing jail time.

[gav09]

^^^2 True!

[Noname]

Dont yall think 7 months is a bit long. He only punched him once. Its not that bad.

It was a good one tho

I know, i couldnt stop laughing when i saw it. Its funny as hell.

[Noname]

If he done it on th street he would be doing jail time.

nah not jailtime, maybe some community work but no jail time.

[bez]

good, cunt!!! Shud be banned for years for doing that I think.

Teach other players you can't do it.

To be fair though, the Inter Milan players who started it should of been given the most lengthy bans.