Valencia hopeful on appeals

Valencia sporting director Amedeo Carboni is confident his club will win an appeal to reduce the bans handed down to their players by UEFA on Wednesday.

Defender David Navarro, the instigator of the brawl that marred Valencia’s Champions League clash against Internazionale at the Mestalla on March 6, has been handed a seven-month suspension by European football’s governing body.

Meanwhile, Navarro’s defensive partner Carlos Marchena was given a four-match ban for his involvement, which will see him miss both Champions League quarter-final ties against Chelsea.

“This decision could be a tactic by UEFA to prove their strength,” said Carboni.

“We cannot accept this ruling. The punishments don’t correspond with what happened on the pitch. We are confident that the bans will be reduced.”

Navarro, a non-playing substitute, punched Nicolas Burdisso and broke his nose after the Inter player had exchanged words with Marchena.

Carboni added: “Navarro knows he made a mistake. But the club supports him because he only acted to defend a team-mate.”