First red card for El Chino

19-02-2003:

Alvaro Recoba became the second Inter player to be red-carded in the 2002/03 Champions League after Fabio Cannavaro 's sending-off in the 69th minute of Rosenborg 2-2 Inter. In Barcelona last night, El Chino saw red for the first time since he started playing in Italy.

I'm sorry Puyol

In an interview with Stream journalists after Inter's match away to Barça, Alvaro Recoba explained the incident which led to his sending-off.

“I don’t know what happened,” insisted the Inter star. “I know I hit him, but not in a nasty way. He slid under my legs and we collided, but I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Puyol was on the ground sliding towards me and I lifted my foot to avoid him, but couldn’t lift it high enough. I am only sorry because I cannot play in the next game.”

The Barcelona defender didn't accept El Chino's apologies following the challenge.
Recoba: "He continued playing so I don't think I hurt him. We didn't need my sending-off. I'm sorry I won't be there for the return match."

"We're still up there and I think we can get back the three points we lost in the next match. The score we lost by doesn't count for much, the important thing is to beat them at the San Siro. We have the advantage of having won in Newcastle. The greatest regret is that I won't be able to play the return match. They are very strong in terms of ball possession, but we gave too much away. Toldo did well. Otherwise, the deficit could have been even worse. We were behind after just seven minutes, a side like Inter cannot afford to let opponents take advantage in this way."

Cuper: “First I will speak with Recoba and ask for an explanation. Because when you make a decision on the pitch you do not think only about yourself but also for the squad. On the pitch there are difficult moments. I believe the heaviest fine for a player is stepping off the pitch, knowing that he will not be taking part in the next match or matches. This is a heaviest punishment.”
“Recoba is a player that never commits fouls. I believe in Recoba's good faith, we can say that what he did was stupid.“
"He did something that I don't understand. He's a good man, he's not nasty and he's even fantastic in his private life. I'm very surprised about what happened."

Moratti: "A punishment for Recoba? Perhaps a few hours extra training could be a good punishment. And then, knowing Recoba, who has never been a violent player and who is not instinctively violent... It was a violent gesture which lasted a second. It was only thought about because the opposing player wasn't hurt, but the risk of what happened is serious and to be disqualified is serious. In any case, I'll leave Cuper the pleasure of finding the right punishment. It's regretful because the image of a violent player emerges, and he's not violent."

Regarding the three-match suspension given to Nerazzurri striker Alvaro Recoba, Puyol commented, "I think this three-match disqualification is exaggerated. Alvaro realised he was wrong and he said sorry to me. I think it's exaggerated. I think the sending-off and perhaps a one-match ban would have been enough, but three is too much."

[inter.it]