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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Defoe hits back at 'bite' reports | Defoe hits back at 'bite' reports |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tottenham striker Jermaine Defoe has issued his own statement following the apparent biting episode on West Ham's Javier Mascherano. | |
| Defoe, who was booked for his reaction which came after he was fouled by Mascherano, claims the incident has been "blown out of all proportion". | Defoe, who was booked for his reaction which came after he was fouled by Mascherano, claims the incident has been "blown out of all proportion". |
| He said: "The referee was standing over me and if he felt I had done something bad he would have sent me off." | |
| Defoe went on to say: "The incident doesn't look great on TV." | Defoe went on to say: "The incident doesn't look great on TV." |
| Meanwhile, sports minister Richard Caborn wants the Football Association to examine the an incident. | Meanwhile, sports minister Richard Caborn wants the Football Association to examine the an incident. |
| Caborn told The Times: "Any action like this I hope the authorities will decide on. Players in these positions have a responsibility to set a good example." | Caborn told The Times: "Any action like this I hope the authorities will decide on. Players in these positions have a responsibility to set a good example." |
| But the FA may not take further action because Defoe was booked at the time. | But the FA may not take further action because Defoe was booked at the time. |
| Mascherano also received a yellow card for his part in the incident, which came towards the end of the first half of Tottenham's 1-0 win at White Hart Lane. | Mascherano also received a yellow card for his part in the incident, which came towards the end of the first half of Tottenham's 1-0 win at White Hart Lane. |
| Spurs boss Martin Jol described Defoe's bite as a "comical nibble". | Spurs boss Martin Jol described Defoe's bite as a "comical nibble". |
| In today's game, he could have been sent off West Ham boss Alan Pardew | In today's game, he could have been sent off West Ham boss Alan Pardew |
| "He was nibbling his arm - there will be no mark. Ask Mascherano if he has got a mark," said Jol. | "He was nibbling his arm - there will be no mark. Ask Mascherano if he has got a mark," said Jol. |
| "It is part of the game. They kicked him three times from behind in 10 minutes and he wanted to show his frustration in a nice, comical way." | "It is part of the game. They kicked him three times from behind in 10 minutes and he wanted to show his frustration in a nice, comical way." |
| However, Hammers boss Alan Pardew, who saw his side slide to a fifth straight Premiership defeat, did not see the funny side. | However, Hammers boss Alan Pardew, who saw his side slide to a fifth straight Premiership defeat, did not see the funny side. |
| "Mascherano brought him down from behind and that was definitely a booking," he said. | "Mascherano brought him down from behind and that was definitely a booking," he said. |
| "I didn't quite see the reaction from Jermain but it looked like he gestured towards Mascherano but whether there was any contact I don't know. | "I didn't quite see the reaction from Jermain but it looked like he gestured towards Mascherano but whether there was any contact I don't know. |
| "In today's game he could have gone. If he was sent off there, it would have changed the game." | "In today's game he could have gone. If he was sent off there, it would have changed the game." |