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PARIS: European football governing body UEFA announced on Wednesday they have opened disciplinary proceedings against AC Milan's Gennaro Gattuso after he head-butted Tottenham assistant manager Joe Jordan.
The incident occurred after the final whistle in Milan's 1-0 Champions League first-leg defeat by Spurs in their last-16 tie at the San Siro on Tuesday night.
UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body will meet next Monday to discuss the case.
Tottenham's victory following a Peter Crouch goal in the 80th minute was overshadowed by Gattuso's behaviour during the fiery encounter.
The former Rangers player clashed with Crouch during the match and also squared up to Jordan and pushed him in the face on the touchline during the second half.
His head-butt on Jordan after the final whistle sparked angry scenes, with several players from both sides getting involved.
“I lost my head and I'm taking responsibility because I did something I shouldn't have done,” said Gattuso afterwards.
“Jordan was breaking my balls throughout the second half but that doesn't justify my reaction.
“I was annoyed about the words I'd exchanged with Jordan. We were both speaking Scottish given that I played in his country in Glasgow but I'm not going to say what was said.
“I made a mistake doing what I did to an older person, and that's it.
“I'll wait and see what (UEFA) decides.”
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted he expects Gattuso to be hit with a UEFA sanction.
“At the end of the game it was an unpleasant episode, there was a bit of nervousness, I don't know why it happened,” he said.
“I didn't like this episode, it's not nice to see, of course it will be looked at (by UEFA), there was certainly a reason that he behaved this way but you can't excuse it.”
The clash was also marred by Matthieu Flamini's two-footed challenge on Vedran Corluka which left the Spurs full-back with an ankle injury.
