Mihajlovic to face UEFA action despite Mutu appeal

>LAZIO defender Sinisa Mihajlovic faces UEFA disciplinary action and a long ban for spitting on Adrian Mutu even though the Chelsea striker has appealed for clemency in an undeserved act of forgiveness.

UEFA will discuss on Friday the case of Mihajlovic, whose shameful actions in stamping on Mutu, as well as spitting into his ear, were caught on camera during Chelsea’s Champions League victory in Rome.

The disgraced Serb defender, who has previously been found guilty of racially abusing Patrick Vieira, now deserves a long suspension to add to his automatic one-match ban for a separate red card on Tuesday night.

Indeed, there is the precedent of a four-match ban given to Celta Vigo midfielder Peter Luccin for a similar act of spitting at an opponent in the UEFA Cup last season.

Mutu joined the widespread condemnation of Mihajlovic’s disgraceful actions in revealing that he had felt “humiliated” by such an “awful insult”. However, the Romanian international insisted that the centre-back had already been punished enough, even if his appeals will not stop the UEFA investigation which has already started.

“I am disappointed with Mihajlovic’s behaviour, he hit me when the ball was out of play. If this is his character, it is worse for him and for Lazio,” said Mutu. “I am not someone who cries about these things though. These things happen on the pitch. This is a man’s game. I don’t think he should be punished or that further action should be taken.

“The good thing is that we have won, we have taken three important points. I go home a happy man and he doesn’t.”

Cynics might suggest that Mutu is worried about being investigated himself for the elbow on Mihajlovic which provoked the spitting incident in the first place. However, the Romanian earned plaudits from his manager, Claudio Ranieri, for rising above any retaliation in the Olympic Stadium after an act considered by footballers to be about as low as any player can stoop.

Mutu said: “It was an awful insult. It was humiliating to be spat at, but I didn’t react as I put the team before any personal vendetta.

“Mihajlovic should stop playing mind games as he lost those as well as the match. He should concentrate on football as he needs to improve his game.

“He has a very poor sense of humour. Some exchanges were made but he couldn’t take it so got violent. It was unprovoked and he started it.

“It had the opposite effect though, as he got sent off later on. He lost his mind and didn’t play well. He made a lot of mistakes. Lazio tried to be aggressive, but it didn’t work as it was a night to remember for us.”

Lazio coach Roberto Mancini

issued an apology on behalf of Mihajlovic, who was also seen throwing a water bottle at the Chelsea dugout after being dismissed for two later fouls on Damien Duff.

“I’m very sorry as he’s a very nice man who doesn’t normally do that sort of thing.” said Mancini.

“But usually when someone has that kind of reaction, it is reacting to something else that has been done to them.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t really see what happened but I have heard that perhaps Mutu first used his elbow.

“If, however, Sinisa then spat at him then it is a very serious thing and he will pay for it, I’m sure.”