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Gennaro Gattuso could face a sizable ban for his headbutt on Tottenham
Hotspur assistant coach Joe Jordan after UEFA said on Wednesday it was opening
a disciplinary case against the AC Milan captain.

Gattuso grabbed Jordan by the throat and
pushed him on the touchline during the Champions League last 16 first leg game
at the San Siro, which Tottenham won 1-0, and headbutted him after the final
whistle before being pulled away by team mates.

The 33-year-old former Italy midfielder later apologised for what he called
“inexcusable” behaviour while Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp called
the Italian firebrand “crazy”.

“I know I shouldn’t have done it,” Gattuso told reporters.
“For the whole of the second half I was sworn at by Jordan. I just got
crazy, I lost my mind and I take responsibility.”

Gattuso, nicknamed “Rino”, played for Scottish Premier League side
Rangers in the 1997/98 season while Jordan, 59, is a former Scotland striker
with a reputation as a hard man who also played for Leeds United, Manchester United
and Milan.

“He talked Scottish, I talked Scottish, he’s Scottish and I played in
Scotland so that’s it,” Gattuso said.

“I will never tell you what we said to each other but it was my
fault.”

Flare up

“I don’t know why it all got so silly,” said Redknapp.
“Gattuso had a flare up with Joe Jordan. He obviously hadn’t done his
homework. He put his head into Joe’s face as well. It was crazy. He lost his
head during the game.”

Gattuso has already been suspended for the return in London on March 9 after
being booked during Tuesday’s match for a foul on Steven Pienaar after which he
banged his fist on the ground repeatedly in anger knowing he would miss the
second leg.

UEFA said in a statement its Control and
Disciplinary Body would meet on Monday, February 21 to discuss the case
following “incidents” in the game, which flared up on several
occasions.

The European governing body has in the past dealt harshly with players who
have failed to control their temper.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was banned for six UEFA matches, two of them
deferred, for his improper behaviour in their Champions League semi-final
against Barcelona in 2009.

The Ivorian Drogba harangued the referee after the final whistle, screaming
insults and then launched a foul-mouthed tirade towards a live television
camera.

REUTERS