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Phil Brown: Cesc Fabregas Spat At My Assistant
Hull City manager Phil Brown was seething after his side crashed out of the FA Cup not because of the manner of their defeat, but due to Arsenal's perceived lack of class.
Mar 17, 2009 5:59:41 PM
Hull City looked to have edged their way into the FA Cup semi-final after securing a first half lead over Arsenal via a Johan Djourou deflection following a Nicky Barmby volley, only for the Gunners to peg the Tigers back with a late second half brace.
There were accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct during the game's aftermath by Setanta Sports' match commentators as, instead of shaking Phil Brown's hand after the final whistle, Arsene Wenger instead opted to head straight down the tunnel, leaving his assistant Pat Rice to thank his visitors for the game.
Brown, though, was further disgruntled with not only Wenger's refusal to shake hands, but the manner in which his club captain - 2008's European Championship winner with Spain, Francesc Fabregas - conducted himself after the game despite not even featuring on the field of play.
He indignantly told Setanta Sports in carefully enunciated English, "For their club captain - Cesc Fabregas - to spit at my assistant-manager at the end of the game just shows you what this club is about."
When asked to clarify his stance by the interviewing journalist, Brown again said, "Their club captain - Cesc Fabregas - spat at Brian Horton.
"He's very disappointed. It is up to him whether he pursues it with the FA," he said.
Regarding his opposite number Arsene Wenger's blank refusal to shake hands, and shun Brown, the Tigers boss added, "Wenger did not offer his hand during the league game [that Hull won 2-1 at the Emirates earlier in the season], I did not expect that then [because they lost], maybe when he wins though."
On a lighter note, Brown was delighted with the way his team handled themselves, and believes that the future looks good for Hull City.
"The spirit... the fighting spirit that we showed tonight, we will definitely be in the Premier League next season if we play like that for the next nine games."
Setanta Sports journalists later confirmed that Brown's assistant Brian Horton alerted them to his version events that Fabregas encroached onto the pitch after the game and spat at him.
Horton then reportedly added that he would be making an official FA complaint tomorrow morning. The tunnel scenes that ensued have been described as the most heated altercation scenes witnessed this season.
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
There were accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct during the game's aftermath by Setanta Sports' match commentators as, instead of shaking Phil Brown's hand after the final whistle, Arsene Wenger instead opted to head straight down the tunnel, leaving his assistant Pat Rice to thank his visitors for the game.
Brown, though, was further disgruntled with not only Wenger's refusal to shake hands, but the manner in which his club captain - 2008's European Championship winner with Spain, Francesc Fabregas - conducted himself after the game despite not even featuring on the field of play.
He indignantly told Setanta Sports in carefully enunciated English, "For their club captain - Cesc Fabregas - to spit at my assistant-manager at the end of the game just shows you what this club is about."
When asked to clarify his stance by the interviewing journalist, Brown again said, "Their club captain - Cesc Fabregas - spat at Brian Horton.
"He's very disappointed. It is up to him whether he pursues it with the FA," he said.
Regarding his opposite number Arsene Wenger's blank refusal to shake hands, and shun Brown, the Tigers boss added, "Wenger did not offer his hand during the league game [that Hull won 2-1 at the Emirates earlier in the season], I did not expect that then [because they lost], maybe when he wins though."
On a lighter note, Brown was delighted with the way his team handled themselves, and believes that the future looks good for Hull City.
"The spirit... the fighting spirit that we showed tonight, we will definitely be in the Premier League next season if we play like that for the next nine games."
Setanta Sports journalists later confirmed that Brown's assistant Brian Horton alerted them to his version events that Fabregas encroached onto the pitch after the game and spat at him.
Horton then reportedly added that he would be making an official FA complaint tomorrow morning. The tunnel scenes that ensued have been described as the most heated altercation scenes witnessed this season.
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
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