Navarro slammed for theatrics
Source: Agencies |
March 2, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
DAVID Navarro produced a performance fitting for Oscar night.
The Valencia defender elbowed Fernando Llorente in the back of the head while jumping for a ball that flew high over the pair, and then fell to ground clutching his own noggin in apparent agony.
While Llorente was eventually led to the sidelines for treatment and quickly returned to action, Navarro remained motionless before being removed on a stretcher. Seconds later, the Valencia captain was back on the field to help his team rally from a 0-1 deficit to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on Sunday in the Spanish league.
"He deserves an Oscar for what he did," Bilbao defender Mikel San Jose said. "Football is a contact sport and you can give your opponent a blow with an elbow but if that happens you have to own up to it and not throw yourself on the ground. That's the worst thing about it."
Replays showed that Navarro's head did not make contact with anyone or anything during the play.
Navarro has previously served a six-month ban from all national and international matches for his part in a melee during a Champions League game in 2007. Navarro came off the bench and punched Inter Milan defender Nicolas Burdisso from behind, breaking the player's nose.
Llorente, who said Navarro was a dangerous player, called on Spanish officials to review the incident and impose a ban after he needed three stitches because of the incident.
Meanwhile, Malaga moved off the foot of La Liga with a 3-1 comeback home win over Almeria on Monday, boosting the ambitious club's hopes of avoiding relegation.
The Valencia defender elbowed Fernando Llorente in the back of the head while jumping for a ball that flew high over the pair, and then fell to ground clutching his own noggin in apparent agony.
While Llorente was eventually led to the sidelines for treatment and quickly returned to action, Navarro remained motionless before being removed on a stretcher. Seconds later, the Valencia captain was back on the field to help his team rally from a 0-1 deficit to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on Sunday in the Spanish league.
"He deserves an Oscar for what he did," Bilbao defender Mikel San Jose said. "Football is a contact sport and you can give your opponent a blow with an elbow but if that happens you have to own up to it and not throw yourself on the ground. That's the worst thing about it."
Replays showed that Navarro's head did not make contact with anyone or anything during the play.
Navarro has previously served a six-month ban from all national and international matches for his part in a melee during a Champions League game in 2007. Navarro came off the bench and punched Inter Milan defender Nicolas Burdisso from behind, breaking the player's nose.
Llorente, who said Navarro was a dangerous player, called on Spanish officials to review the incident and impose a ban after he needed three stitches because of the incident.
Meanwhile, Malaga moved off the foot of La Liga with a 3-1 comeback home win over Almeria on Monday, boosting the ambitious club's hopes of avoiding relegation.
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