Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso could face a lengthy ban after UEFA announced yesterday it had opened disciplinary proceedings following his clash with Tottenham coach Joe Jordan.
Gattuso headbutted Jordan after the fiery Champions League match between the two sides at the San Siro. The game finished 1-0 to the Premier League side thanks to a Peter Crouch goal.
UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body will meet next Monday to discuss the case.
Tottenham’s victory in the last-16 encounter was overshadowed by Gattuso’s antics, with the former Rangers midfielder involved in several incidents.
Gattuso clashed with Crouch during the match and also squared up to Jordan and pushed him in the face on the touchline during a frenetic second half.
His headbutt on Jordan after the final whistle sparked angry scenes, with several players from both sides involved in the ensuing melee.
Gattuso later apologised for his actions, saying: “I lost control. There is no excuse for what I did. I take my responsibilities for that.
“I was nervous. I didn’t want to argue with players and I did it with him, but I was wrong to do what I have done.
“Jordan was upsetting me throughout the second half but that doesn’t justify my reaction.
“I was annoyed about the words I’d exchanged with Jordan. We were both speaking Scottish given that I played in his country in Glasgow but I’m not going to say what was said.
“I made a mistake doing what I did to an older person, and that’s it.
“I’ll wait and see what (UEFA) decides.”
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp made light of the incident even joking that Gattuso wouldn’t have had much success in a scrap between the pair.
“They lost their heads at the end there – they were rattled for sure – and I guess that’s a good sign,” he said.
“I know who I’d pick between Joe Jordan and Gennaro Gattuso anyway... Joe all night long. All night long.”
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted he expects Gattuso to be hit with a UEFA sanction.
“At the end of the game it was an unpleasant episode, there was a bit of nervousness, I don’t know why it happened,” he said.
“I didn’t like this episode, it’s not nice to see, of course it will be looked at (by UEFA), there was certainly a reason that he behaved this way but you can’t excuse it.”