Kuyt blasts Italians over van Persie injury

HOLLAND striker Dirk Kuyt has accused Italy of a lack of respect as the row over Robin van Persie’s ankle injury continues to rage.

The Arsenal forward, who has been in magnificent form this season with eight goals in all competitions, has been ruled out for around six weeks after a robust challenge from Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the friendly in Pescara on Saturday.

Van Persie, who was immediately withdrawn from the Dutch party to face Paraguay in today’s friendly in Heerenveen, has since absolved Chiellini of any blame in the incident, but Liverpool striker Kuyt launched an angry assessment of the Azzurri’s tough-tackling approach to the match.