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Nedved apologises over Figo tackle |
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Tuesday, 06 November 2007 |
 ROME (AFP) - Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved has openly apologised for his tackle which left Inter Milan's veteran Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo requiring leg surgery.
In a letter published on his club's website on Tuesday 34-year-old Nedved - the 2003 European Footballer of the Year - denied that the tackle in Sunday's 1-1 Serie A draw meant that he was a violent player.
The former Czech Republic playmaker wrote: "I'm really sorry to have caused Luis Figo serious injury. I've apologised directly afterwards to him as it's only normal to do."
"I'm not a violent player, I don't play to cause harm to my rivals.
"I never had any intention of injuring Figo, it came down to a missed interception and excessive contact.
"I know that combativity and determination can lead me to exagerate either in my protests with the referee or in my tackles.
"But I'm not the type of player who hits out at a rival when play has stopped or one who wants to cause harm."
Inter coach Roberto Mancini defended Nedved,telling a press conference that that type of incident "can happen' during the course of a game.
Club president Massimo Moratti was taking a harder line, saying on Monday that Nedved's tackle had "deeply displeased me".
"There are things which, between champions, should never occur. Which means that one of these is not (a champion)," he added.
Figo - European Footballer of the Year in 2000 and World Footballer of the Year in 2001 - had a date on the operating table on Tuesday on the fractured fibula which forced him out of the match on what was his 35th birthday.
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