By Tyne-Talk
February 23 2009

Newcastle's Kevin Nolan has apologised for his tackle on Everton's Victor Anichebe which resulted in him being red carded and receiving a 3 match ban. The midfielder made his first apology to Anichebe after waiting for him in the tunnel at half time, he then went and addressed his team mates during the interval apologising for leaving them a man down.

Nolan's third apology was to Everton manager David Moyes who he sought out after the game.

Chris Hughton, caretaker manager for Newcastle United agreed with the referee's decision to issue a straight red and had the following to say on the subject;

"Kevin is what he is. He's a competitive player, as are players like your Nicky Butts and your Steven Taylors.

They're competitive players, and if they're competitive players, you expect them to perform competitively.

I'd say, on the challenge itself that I didn't think there was any intent or malice in the challenge, but we accept that he did catch the lad.

Kevin himself has apologised to the lad and also to David Moyes, and it's one we need to pick ourselves up from and go on from here.

It's disappointing that we lose him, because he's a good player."

The Everton striker has also spoken of the tackle (pictured above) which he says left him fearing he had broken his leg, Anichebe told Everton TV;

"I've never felt as much pain in my life. I thought I'd broken my leg. I couldn't even look down, to be fair. It was a terrible tackle but I don't think he really meant it, he came and said sorry. But what can you do?

I felt so much pain. Now it's not too bad. It's not as bad as I first thought anyway, but I'm feeling a bit of pain in my knee and the back of my calf and down my shin so we'll see how it is.

I've always thought to myself I'll never get injured for a long period of time. When it happened I thought, that's me, that's my time, but luckily I've got strong legs anyway, and if that was anyone else, their leg would have snapped in two.

I suppose I'm lucky to come out not as bad anyway, so I'll get a scan on Monday and see how it is. Hopefully everything is all right."

David Moyes added that he didn't believe Nolan was malicious in his tackle, he just mistimed it;

"It was undoubtedly a sending off and undoubtedly a bad tackle and we've certainly got a sore boy in Victor Anichebe but I've not known Kevin Nolan to be that type of player.

Whether he mistimed it and ended up with his two feet in or whether he got there late, it was a bad tackle Whether he mistimed it and ended up with his two feet in or whether he got there late, it was a bad tackle.

We always accept apologies. That's football. I would like to think no footballer would actually go out to harm anyone else. I've been there before and played myself and don't think players do that. But you have to hold your hand up and say it was a bad tackle. You can't do anything else."

Nolan Makes Triple Apology For Anichebe Tackle

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 23/02/2009 14:43

TyneTalk
23/02/2009 14:43

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tunyc
27/02/2009 21:39

Good on him. It was a horrible tackle-worse than Martin Taylor's on Eduardo last year. I thought Anichebe's leg was broken as well. I hope he's back on the field quickly and that wor Kev's learned a lesson.

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MissC
28/02/2009 18:49

Think he is out for the season.

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