Injured Fabregas watched from the bench as the Gunners came back
from behind to win the quarter-final 2-1 before clashing with
Horton in the tunnel. That came after a William Gallas winner which
Hull boss Phil Brown called 'a disgrace' because of an offside
claim.
Hull boss Phil Brown raged: “I was there, I witnessed
it. Fabregas spat at our assistant manager. That’s their club
captain. Hopefully he’s proud of himself. He spat at his feet.”
But last night a stunned Fabregas phoned The Sun to
vehemently deny the claim. He insisted: “I absolutely and
categorically deny I spat at anyone and I cannot understand why
Hull are making these accusations against me.
“I have never spat at anyone in my life. It is a
disgusting habit. Why would I do something like that after a match
I was not even playing in? “I was on the pitch at the end of the
game celebrating with my team-mates but I promise I did not do
anything wrong.”
Bust-up: Cesc Fabregas (second right) confronts
Hull players and staff at the final whistle.
Arsenal clinched a semi-final clash against
Chelsea at Wembley on April 18 with a controversial late William
Gallas winner after Robin van Persie had cancelled out Nicky
Barmby’s opener.
Tigers chief Brown added: “I’m not bothered if Fabregas
apologises. I don’t even accept apologies from my own players. “For
Arsenal’s club captain Cesc Fabregas to spit at my assistant Brian
Horton shows you what this club’s about.”
There were further claims that Arsenal boss Arsene
Wenger, Hull No 2 Horton, Barmby and Gunners stewards were involved
in a tunnel bust-up at half-time.
Arsenal gaffer Wenger also refused to shake Brown’s
hand at the final whistle. Brown felt he was cheated out of a
replay by Gallas’ late winner, which was clearly offside.
No way: Phil Brown insists Gallas is offside as he
watches a re-run of Arsenal's winner.
The manager added: “I can’t use that word I’m
afraid — but that’s the case. I’m glad you said that word . . .
thank you. “We lost the game unfairly. But I didn’t use the word
cheat, you did.
Riley allowed Arsenal's 84th-minute winner to stand, even though
goalscorer William Gallas was in an offside position when he headed
it in. Brown said: 'You are not going to get the rub of the green
when you come to places like the Emirates.
Wenger dashed straight down the tunnel at the end without
shaking Brown's hand, and claimed he knew nothing about the
spitting incident. Brown said: 'He never shakes my hand. Maybe he's
still sore we beat them here last time.'
Fabregas added: “It was not until half an hour after the game
that I heard what Hull were saying about me and it is not something
that is easy to accept. “I understand Hull are angry and frustrated
about going out of the FA Cup. “But I don’t know why they are
saying these things about me because it did not happen. That is the
truth.
“I don’t even know who the assistant manager of Hull is
or what he looks like. “I am told Hull will be making an official
complaint to the FA about me.
“Well, I am perfectly relaxed about that. I have
nothing to hide. Not one drop of spit left my mouth. I am certain
of that.”
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