Fabregas escapes charge despite accusing Everton of bribing referee
By ANIThursday, February 3, 2011
LONDON - Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas has escaped a Football Association charge despite claims of him accusing Everton of bribing a referee.
Fabregas was at the centre of a furious half-time dispute on Tuesday night after Everton were awarded a goal Arsenal felt was offside.
An Everton player, who asked not to be named, said: “As we were walking down the tunnel, Fabregas was shouting and screaming, ‘How much have you paid the ref?’ and ‘Everton are a bunch of cheats’.”
Both sets of players then pushed and shoved each other before tempers calmed down, The Sun reports.
Arsenal won 2-1 but Everton boss David Moyes insisted Fabregas should have been sent off.
In a statement last night, Fabregas said: “I have respect for all match officials. Their job is a very difficult one and their decisions are final. Yes, I was upset at half-time. So too were about 60,000 Arsenal supporters in the stadium.”
“We were one-nil down to a goal which we felt was offside. Of course I am going to be upset. Players from both sides were saying things as we came off and this always happens in football.
“I’m passionate about this club and like all the players want to win every single match, so many things are said in the heat of the moment,” he said. (ANI)
