Valencia celebrations curtailed by brawl
(Reuters)Updated: 2007-03-07 08:44
VALENCIA, Spain - Valencia's Champions League victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday was marred by a mass brawl at the final whistle in which the Italian side's Argentine midfielder Nicolas Burdisso suffered a broken nose.
 Inter Milan and Valencia players fight at the end of their Champions League soccer match in Valencia March 6, 2007. Valencia clinched a place in the quarter-finals with a classic "catenaccio" performance when they held Inter Milan to a 0-0 draw. [Reuters]  |
Valencia, who drew 2-2 in the first leg, clinched a place in the quarter-finals on the away goals rule after holding Inter to a 0-0 draw at the Mestalla.
But tempers flared at the final whistle with Valencia midfielder Carlos Marchena kicking out at Burdisso after exchanging words with the Argentine.
The incident sparked the brawl and Valencia substitute David Navarro, who had not featured in the match, ran on to the middle of the pitch and punched Burdisso who fell to the ground.
Several Inter players tried to trip up Navarro as he ran off the pitch and the fighting continued in the tunnel.
Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo entered the Valencia dressing room, while Luis Figo and Inter's Esteban Cambiasso were involved in scuffles as they tried to follow him with security guards having to intervene.
Local media reported that Navarro was ushered away from the stadium.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini said he was deeply disappointed by the incident.
"A Valencia player went mad when he came on to the pitch and hit Burdisso," said Mancini. "He broke Burdisso's nose.
"Toldo saw the incident and it is possible he went into the Valencia dressing room.
"Players have to learn how to behave on the pitch."
Valencia striker David Villa said it was a shame to have ended the game in such disappointing fashion.
"It was unnecessary, it was ugly and sad," the Spanish international told reporters. "At such times when emotions are running high there are some people who don't know how to control themselves."
Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores said he hoped his team would not receive a heavy punishment as a result of the incidents.
"There was a problem between Marchena and Burdisso at the final whistle and Navarro intervened mistakenly," he told reporters. "It was an error by the whole team to get involved.
"I hope we will be given a minimum punishment and that it will affect the team as little as possible.
"There was a lot of confusion in the dressing room and people were out of order. It took a long time for people to calm down, but these things sometimes happen in football."
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