Uefa Champions League first knockout round, second leg:
Valencia and Inter Milan have been charged with improper conduct by Uefa after the Spanish side's substitute David Navarro sparked a brawl at the end of their Champions League victory on away goals at the Mestalla on Tuesday night.
The Valencia defender said he was ashamed of his behaviour after running on to the pitch and punching Inter midfielder Nicolas Burdisso in the face, breaking his nose, before being chased by Milan players at the end of the match.
Navarro and his team-mate Carlos Marchena, who had kicked out at Burdisso helping trigger the pandemonium that followed, have been charged by Uefa with gross unsporting conduct along with Burdisso and his Inter team-mates Ivan Cordoba and Maicon.
"I've never behaved this way before and I'm sure my family will be very disappointed in me," Navarro was quoted as saying in sports daily Marca yesterday.
"I'm ashamed and very much regret what I did. I haven't seen the television pictures and the truth is I don't want to either. I'm upset because I've never done anything like this in my life before nor will I again."
Uefa said both clubs face an investigation with the case due to be considered by their control and disciplinary body on March 14th.
The first knockout round match ended in a goalless draw, which meant Valencia qualified for the quarter-finals on the away goals rule after a 2-2 draw in Milan two weeks ago.
Tuesday's unseemly incidents flared up when Navarro sprinted off the bench at the end of the match as Marchena and fellow midfielder Burdisso squared up to each other.
Navarro floored Burdisso with a punch in the face and was pursued by several Inter players as he ran off the pitch. Inter coach Roberto Mancini said the Argentinian's nose had been broken.
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 dressingroom.
Security guards intervened, but it took several minutes before the situation calmed down. Local media reported that Navarro left the stadium by a back door.
"When I saw that they were going for Carlos (Marchena) I ran on the pitch," said Navarro. "I saw Burdisso and was going to separate them, but I just lost my head.
"I expect to be punished. I very much regret what happened and I will accept whatever punishment I am given."
The defender said he would try and ring Burdisso to apologise.
Mancini, who missed the incident at the time but watched replays, branded Burdisso's assailant a coward on Italian television.
"I didn't see anything because I was going back to the changing rooms, but the lads told me what happened," he said.
"Looking at the pictures, 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."
Inter president Massimo Moratti was far more diplomatic and said his club would not be seeking redress from Uefa.
"I'm sorry for the player (Burdisso) and for everything that happened at the end of the game. We really didn't expect to have things like that happen anymore."
As for reported trouble between opposing players in the dressingrooms, he said: "There wasn't a fight there. The Uefa delegate was aware of the situation and he's a good man."
