defeat in Santiago.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez leapt to the defence of Edinson Cavani
on Wednesday as footage appeared to show a Chilean player attempting to
provoke the star by inserting a finger into his anus.
Cavani
was sent off midway through the second half after receiving a second
yellow card for flicking a hand into the face of Chile defender Gonzalo
Jara.
But Tabarez said Cavani – who has been linked with a move to the Premier League this summer – had been the victim of provocation by Jara which should have been spotted by the match officials.
Post-match camera footage of the altercation appears to show Jara shoving a finger into the back of Cavani’s shorts.
“For the expulsion of Cavani, you can see what happened and what the
challenge was. I refer you to the television and photos of it, it is all
there,” said Tabarez.
“I can see that the referee has not seen it, but the linesman had to be able to see it from his position.”
Cavani is sent off after slapping the defender Gonzalo Jara
It is not the first time Jara has been involved in controversy involving a Uruguayan opponent.
In 2013 Uruguay striker Luis Suarez punched Jara after the Chilean
reportedly grabbed his genitals during a World Cup qualifier.
Cavani clashes with Chile players
Tabarez said the dismissal of Cavani, when the match was finely poised at 0-0, had turned the tide against his team.
“We had the game under control but when we were left with 10 men it
became a little more difficult because it limited our opportunities to
attack,” said Tabarez.
The brawl saw almost every player from both sides involved
A miserable night for Uruguay got worse for the 2011 champions when
Jorge Fucile was sent off late in the game for a rugged challenge on
Alexis Sanchez.
That sparked a prolonged confrontation between players and officials from both sides including Tabarez.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez makes his displeasure known
Sanchez later revealed one unnamed Uruguayan player had said sorry to
him for the rough treatment he had been given during a bruising
encounter.
“They like to fight, argue, go forward all out; one
player told me in the first half ‘Move you wimp’ – but then later he
said to me: ‘I am sorry’,” Sanchez said, without identifying the
opponent in question.
“He said to me, ‘That’ll do, I kicked the
shit out of you’. And I said, ‘Alright but you could have caused an
injury and that’s not what football’s about,'” Sanchez said.
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