Fiasco sees Inter, Valencia charged with improper conduct

MADRID - INTER Milan and Valencia have been charged with improper conduct by Uefa, after madness descended following their 0-0 stalemate on Tuesday.

Valencia's unused substitute David Navarro has been charged with gross unsporting conduct at the Mestalla Stadium.

He admitted his shame for running onto the pitch and punching Inter's midfielder Nicolas Burdisso, breaking his nose.

His teammate Carlos Marchena, who had originally fought with Burdisso to trigger the pandemonium at the final whistle, along with Burdisso and Inter's Ivan Cordoba and Maicon have also been charged.

'I've never behaved this way before and I'm sure my family will be very disappointed with me,' Navarro said.

'I'm ashamed and very much regret what I did. I've never done anything like this in my life before, nor will I again.

'It was a lack of respect for the football world and that's why I wanted to ask forgiveness from Burdisso. If I need to go to Italy to say sorry, I will.'

Inter coach Roberto Mancini said: 'One thing is certain, that the Valencia player is a coward.

'That's the only thing you can call a man who gives someone a punch like that and then runs away.'

The first leg in Italy finished 2-2, which meant Valencia progressed on the away- goals rule.

But there is a question whether Uefa will allow them to continue after the shameful scenes.

'We hope the sanctions will be minimal,' Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores said. 'The tension of football generates these situations and affects our good sense.'

A ruling is expected on March 22.

'I was having an argument with one person and then someone else gave me a punch from behind,' Burdisso said. 'It was not a man's punch.

'Then the whole team reacted and I think this shows we are a united squad.'

He added that his first altercation with Marchena was 'something that normally happens on the pitch, and nothing more'.

As he and Marchena were being pulled apart by the rest of the players, Navarro sprinted off the bench and floored Burdisso.

He was pursued by several Inter players as he ran off the pitch. Television images showed Inter's Julio Cruz and Cordoba trying to tackle Navarro.

A mass brawl developed in the centre of the pitch and the incidents continued in the tunnel as several Inter players tried to follow Navarro into the dressing room.

REUTERS