The Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz today issued a public apology to Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Possebon for the reckless, studs-up tackle during last night's Carling Cup tie that left the teenager in hospital. Pogatetz also accepted that he had deserved to be sent off.
Possebon was kept in hospital overnight after the incident during United's 3-1 win at Old Trafford and needed stitches to a two-inch gash just below his right knee. But the 19-year-old will reflect that he actually had a lucky escape after x-rays showed there was no break.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who said that he feared a long-term injury, accused Pogatetz of a "horrendous" and "terrible" challenge, while the former United and Middlesbrough defender Gary Pallister added further condemnation, accusing the guilty player of knowing he was going to hurt his opponent.
Pogatetz, however, insisted it had not been pre-meditated. "Firstly, I have to say that I went for the tackle because I thought I could win the ball. I now accept, however, that I misjudged the challenge," said the Middlesbrough captain. "Immediately after the incident, I did not think it was a red-card offence because I did win the ball. But now I have had the chance to see the tackle on television, I know the referee was right to send me off."
Pogatetz said he had sent a message to Possebon and would try to contact him in person. "I am going to speak to Rodrigo by telephone and I have apologised for hurting him. I hope that he will make a quick recovery and that he will not be out for long."
His contrition will not spare him from a club fine and a three-match ban, while the incident will do little to improve the reputation of a player who refers to himself as "Mad Dog" and, as a Spartak Moscow player in 2005, was banned for 24 weeks, reduced to eight on appeal, after breaking an opponent's leg in two places.
"You can mistime a tackle now and again but he was sliding over the ball," said Ryan Giggs, United's captain for last night's match. "That was a bad challenge and the referee has rightly sent him off. It was a really bad, deep cut that Rodrigo suffered."
Pallister was even more critical. "Everyone around the incident knew immediately it was a bad one," he said. "Pogatetz tried to give it the innocent look but when you see it in slow motion he's actually hit the ball first but the angle he is tackling he knows he is going to hit Possebon's leg. And he does — with great force.
"Pogatetz has got that part to his game sometimes," Pallister continued. "He's got that brash side and likes to steam into tackles but this was a bad one and he is going to have the face the consequences. Possebon will never have come across a challenge as ferocious as that and he will be reeling at the moment."