Shameful, pathetic and deserving of bans.

It’s a performance no one will be able to put behind them, least of all Valencia’s David Navarro.

That silly runt ran on the pitch, punched a surrounded, held-back and outnumbered opposition player (Inter Milan’s Nicolas Burdisso) in the face, and then ran away back off the pitch like a coward (I doubt that he’s ever run THAT fast on the pitch before though).

Recap of Valencia-Inter Brawl Events

Carlos Marchena and Nicolas Burdisso had a spat after the final whistle, and Marchena was seen kicking Burdisso. That incident sparked a brawl with Burdisso going mental, surrounded by Valencia players and being pulled back by his own players as well.

Within seconds both teams, support staff and security were on the pitch trying to defuse the situation.

Burdisso – who is as much to blame here as Marchena and Navarro – was still out of control when Navarro ran on the pitch and punched Burdisso in the face.

Several Inter players tried to trip up Navarro as he ran off the pitch and the fighting continued in the tunnel and outside the dressing rooms.

The scenes continued in the tunnel with Toldo going into Valencia’s dressing room to confront Navarro, who by his own account was not there. Figo and Cambiasso tried to follow Toldo but were restrained by security.

Quotes

Uefa spokesman:

“A decision is expected at the next disciplinary body meeting on 22 March.”

Oh I would pay to see this one – football authorities will want to come down hard on football violence whether it is in the stands, outside the grounds or on the pitch.

Inter Milan coach, Robert Mancini, after calling Navarro a coward:

“Now I have seen the footage there’s nothing else you can say about someone who throws a punch like that and runs away.”

I think Navarro ran because he realised he’d done something amazingly stupid (hah), and it’s a good thing he ran too – if the Inter players had got to him we would have had a riot on our hands (and Navarro would probably be in the hospital).

David Navarro:

“I have never behaved in this fashion before and I will never do it again, I am very sorry and ashamed.

I saw that they were trying to attack a team-mate and I lost my nerve.

I haven’t yet been able to see the images nor the reaction of the Inter players in our changing room, I was in another room.

It has been a lamentable incident, I want to apologise to those affected by my actions.”

Emiliano Moretti (Valencia’s token Italian):

“Navarro is a perfectly normal person and I don’t know what would cause him to do such a thing.”

What should UEFA do

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Update: Carlos Marchena and David Navarro of Valencia, and Inter’s Nicolas Burdisso, Ivan Cordoba and Maicon have all been charged with gross unsporting conduct.

Uefa’s Control and Disciplinary Body will deal with the case on 14 March.

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For starters, give David Navarro an year-long ban from all forms of football (if that can’t happen, then a ban for the next 20 European games will do).

Put a ban on Burdisso and Marchena as well, although it would make sense to review the ref’s match report and match accounts by everyone else present at the incident before making any decisions.

Should the clubs be fined or punished Fine yes, punished, no.

Valencia – Inter Brawl – Video

Inter vs Valencia Scuffle

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