Eboue disputes red card

Share
Emmanuel Eboue has apologised for his sending-off against Tottenham, but the Arsenal midfielder feels referee Mike Dean was wrong to issue the first of his yellow cards.

The Ivorian was dismissed in the 37th minute at White Hart Lane, after invoking the wrath of Dean first for dissent and then for a petulant kick-out at Spurs midfielder Luka Modric.

While accepting his trip on Modric was deserving of a booking, Eboue insists he did nothing wrong in the incident that led to his first card.

"I am sorry," he told the club's official website. "This game was very, very important for us. We must always win when we play against Tottenham and give our best for the fans.

"I am so disappointed to get the red card but I say thank you to my friends [team-mates] who gave everything. We drew and we are happy. It is a good point for us after playing so long with 11 v 10.

"For the second booking, I touched him. I put my leg up because [Modric] had touched me before in front of the referee and he did not say anything. He kicked me when I tried to go forward and I put my leg up. The second card is normal, I accept it.

"For the first yellow card I did not say anything bad.

"I was in front of the ball and I was talking with Manuel Almunia. After that I said [to the referee] you have to whistle before and he said okay. I came back to take my place and then he called me and gave me a yellow card. I don't really understand why.

"But for me the referee was not good today."

Eboue had the ball in the net 13 minutes into the goalless draw but was penalised for a push on Jonathan Woodgate, a decision Gunners boss Arsene Wenger branded 'not acceptable'.

And the Frenchman's words have now been echoed by Eboue: "It was a goal," the 25-year-old said.

"I don't know why he did not give it. The referee said I touched Woodgate but I did not."
Digg this

0 comments: