Tunnel bust-up leaves PSG fuming
PARIS, France (AFP) — Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) were left fuming yesterday after midfielder Thiago Motta was left with a fractured nose following a bust-up in the tunnel at the end of their Ligue One clash with SC Bastia.
Images from surveillance cameras in the tunnel at the Parc des Princes, obtained by several local media outlets, appeared to show Bastia’s Brazilian forward Brandao waiting for Motta to approach him before headbutting the Brazil-born Italy international.
A mass altercation then ensued, and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told beIN Sports that Motta’s nose had been fractured in the incident.
Al-Khelaifi also called for serious action to be taken against Brandao, the 34-yearold former Marseille player.
“I hope that the Bastia player who did that is very severely punished. A heavy punishment is required,” he said.
PSG coach Laurent Blanc also accused Brandao of being responsible for the injury that forced full-back Gregory Van der Wiel to come off at halftime of the game, which the reigning champions won 2-0.
Home captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off injured, after apparently straining a muscle in his side, after just 14 minutes of the match against the Corsicans, before goals from Lucas and Edinson Cavani gave PSG their first Ligue One win of the campaign.