Gattuso told not to travel to Spurs
Reuters - Wednesday 23 February 2011, 13:09
MILAN - AC Milan's suspended midfielder
Gennaro Gattuso has been advised not to travel to London for
next month's Champions League last 16 return with Tottenham
Hotspur after headbutting Spurs assistant coach Joe Jordan.
"I wanted to watch the second leg but was advised not to as
there are 37,000 fans in London and I would have probably
returned to Milan with my face swollen. I would have taken
37,000 slaps!" he told Italy's satirical Mediaset TV show "Le
Iene" (The Hyenas) to be broadcast later on Wednesday.
Gattuso was handed a four-match ban by European governing
body UEFA after grabbing Jordan by the throat and pushing him on
the touchline during last week's game before headbutting the
former Scotland forward after the final whistle.
The feisty former Italy midfielder was already suspended for
the return leg after being booked for a foul on Steven Pienaar
in Milan's 1-0 defeat at the San Siro.
"I made a fool out of myself... but respect is important for
me. They gave me a five-match ban, why not a month in jail
then!" Gattuso, who has apologised, added mischievously.
A Milan spokesman confirmed the 33-year-old, nicknamed Rino,
will not attend the match on March 9 at White Hart Lane.