Mihajlovic apologises - but not to Mutu
Lazio defender Sinisa Mihajlovic has apologised for his behaviour against Chelsea that earned him an eight-match ban from UEFA.
However, the veteran Serbo-Montenegrin defender made it clear that he would not say sorry to Adrian Mutu, Chelsea’s Romanian striker who was the victim of the spitting incident that led to the ban.
Mihajlovic, who won the European Cup and Intercontinental Cup with Red Star Belgrade in 1991, begins his eight-match ban on Wednesday when Lazio play Besiktas.
In a statement on Lazio’s website www.sslazio.it he apologised to everyone except the victim of his spitting attack.
“I want to take this opportunity to apologise to my team-mates, to the coach [Roberto Mancini] and the club for being sent off against Chelsea which clearly influenced the final result,” said Mihajlovic.
Mihajlovic, sent off after receiving two yellow cards for separate offences, spat at Mutu during the Champions League match on November 4 that ended 4-0 in favour of Claudio Ranieri’s side.
Mihajlovic admitted his reaction – which was captured by television cameras but went unpunished on the pitch – was wrong.
“Children should not use my behaviour that night as an example,” continued the 34-year-old.
As well as his eight-match ban, he also fined heavily by Lazio.
It is not the first time that the veteran defender has been punished by football’s governing body.
He was banned for two matches by UEFA three years ago for racially abusing Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira during a Champions League match.
However, the temperamental Mihajlovic believes he was provoked by Mutu.
He continued: “I want to clarify that if I had such a reaction it was due to the fact that I was provoked in an undignified way, that is why just as it had occurred with Vieira, I have not apologised to Mutu.”
Mihajlovic believes other players should have been punished for their behaviour, saying: “Whether it is good or bad, this is my character but I am disappointed that the television proof once again has only punished me when there were images showing what I had gone through.”
