Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard insists he has no regrets about his spat with Cesc Fabregas as a mass brawl in stoppage time shamed a thrilling Carling Cup final on Sunday.
Lampard, stand-in captain after John Terry had been carried off with a head injury, received a yellow card for his altercation with the Arsenal midfielder.
The ensuing unsavoury brawl, which saw both managers run on to the Millennium Stadium pitch in order to try to calm the situation, was sparked by Mikel Jon Obi's challenge on Arsenal captain Kolo Toure.
The Arsenal player reacted violently to Mikel's tackle even though referee Howard Webb had awarded a free-kick to the Gunners.
But as they squared up to each other, the fighting spilled over onto other areas of the pitch, with Lampard and Fabregas involved in an ugly confrontation.
Once the situation had been brought under control, Webb red-carded both Toure and Mikel as well as Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Adebayor was harshly adjudged to have been dismissed when substitute Emmanuel Eboue was clearly seen to strike Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge.
But the Togo striker's refusal to leave the playing area when ordered to do so by Webb might yet see the striker face further punishment from the Football Association, who are also likely to consider charging both clubs with failing to control their players.
But Lampard insists that he only did what he felt was right in order to help out his team-mates.
He declared: 'People talked about the Carling Cup a few years ago and criticised the fact that teams don't want to win it. But this was a game both teams wanted to win.
'However much you want to criticise what happened and say it should not happen, and this and that, we should all be happy it was a great battle.
'You back your team-mates up, it is as simple as that. Then, it escalated from there. I get disappointed when red cards get brandished but, as I say, you back your team-mates up and it escalates.
'I wish it hadn't got that far. But when you are in the heat of the moment, it does go that far.
'So, it happened. I was surprised to see the manager on the pitch but he was quick though, wasn't he?
'You back your team up and I suppose the managers back their players.
'It was a moment when you have to show restraint and I think I showed enough restraint not to get a red card.'
VIDEO EVIDENCE
The FA will almost certainly view video evidence of the brawl but may feel that the quick intervention of the managers was sufficient to prevent any further punishment.
However, they still have to deal with Adebayor's situation and may decide to rescind his red card and charge team-mate Eboue instead.
Eboue lashed out at Bridge and sent the England defender sprawling - an action which went completely unnoticed by Webb and his assistants.
Bridge is adamant Webb got the wrong man and says he can fully understand Adebayor's frustration at being red-carded.
The Chelsea full-back said: 'The referee sent the wrong man off. I can understand his (Adebayor) frustration at getting sent off.
- PA Sport.
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Will he fight for his fans too?? I just love him lotsSssSssSss!!************************************************************************************
IRON MAN
FIRST, there was a Captain Marvel. Now there's an Iron Man.
At the peak of his powers, Manchester United skipper Bryan Robson used to inspire his charges with his supercharged, superhuman performances from the heart of midfield.
Now meet Chelsea's own superhero - captain John Terry.Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech insists captain Terry should be named 'Iron Man of the Year' after he shook off the effects of a shocking head injury to help his team-mates celebrate their second Carling Cup win in three years.
Terry was left unconscious after his head was smashed by Abou Diaby's boot in the second half of Chelsea's 2-1 win on Sunday.
Replays showed the full-force of the impact also snapped his head backwards, and he collapsed unconscious.
THE HORROR
Team-mate Frank Lampard later revealed the horror of the injury when he said: 'He (Terry) looked very bad. He was out cold but his eyes were flickering a little bit.'
Chelsea's medical staff along with Arsenal and England physio Gary Lewin spent a full five minutes helping Terry to come round.
He was last seen on TV being stretchered out of the stadium, with a neck brace, and twitching.
The fact that the England defender had won his battle to be fit for Sunday's clash in Cardiff was itself nothing short of miraculous.
Barely four days earlier, Terry suffered ankle ligament damage during Chelsea's 1-1 draw against Porto in the Champions League.
Yet he was declared fit just hours before the kickoff in Cardiff.
It was another example of his Terry's recuperative powers. He also swiftly overcame a serious back problem earlier in the season.
Barely two hours after his horrific KO at the Millenium Stadium, Terry was back up and walking, apparently none the worse for wear and tear.
After a routine medical examination, he checked out of hospital and returned to the stadium help his team-mates celebrate their success.
Now he's even in line to start Saturday's Premiership clash away to Portsmouth (report, Page 55).
Cech, who himself spent three months out of action after fracturing his skull in a game against Reading last October, is nothing short of amazed and feels Terry should now be given his own title.
An emotional Cech said: 'I told John afterwards that if there is some trophy for 'Iron Man of the Year', I think it is him.
'After the injury in Porto, he came back and played. Now he is fine, he was laughing and okay. He is unbelievable.'
Terry himself said he didn't remember the incident.
'I remember walking out for the second half and nothing else until waking up in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
'I had the scan and they said it's okay...I'm still feeling a bit groggy, though.'
Terry is understood to have blacked out, swallowed his tongue and stopped breathing after the head-kick.
Bah.
All in a day's work for the Premiership's latest superhero.
- PA Sport.
btw all the above are from the The Newpaper dated 28 February 2007...
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