Hartley sorry for saying Cardoso’s tears over smashed nose were ‘fun to watch’
Motherwell captain Peter Hartley has apologised after claiming it was fun to watch the injured Fabio Cardoso “weeping” during his side’s Hampden win over Rangers last season. But the Fir Park skipper could face action from the Scottish Football Association over his comments.
Hartley brought up the broken nose suffered by the then Rangers defender Cardoso in the Betfred Cup semi-final as he previewed Sunday’s latest meeting between the teams at Motherwell’s media conference yesterday morning.
Cardoso, who returned to Portugal in the summer to sign for Santa Clara, sustained the injury during an aerial challenge with Motherwell striker Ryan Bowman, who is set to return from injury this weekend.
After being reminded that some of last season’s meetings were “tasty affairs” and asked whether he expected something similar, Hartley said: “They were, at Fir Park definitely and obviously at Hampden as well. I think Bowie broke a boy’s nose didn’t he, so that was fun to watch, the way he was weeping.
“But they have all been entertaining, and the games have been close as well. Neither team has ever been out of sight.”
The 30-year-old’s comments are likely to be examined by the SFA’S interim compliance officer who could deem them inflammatory.
Hartley issued a swift apology after training yesterday afternoon.
Writing on his Twitter account, Hartley said: “I apologise for comments I made in the media today. What I said falls below the standards expected of the captain of Motherwell Football Club.
“I do not condone violent behaviour or wish to trivialise an injury suffered by a fellow professional. I got caught up in the excitement of preparing for a big game and said something I regret.
“We will be competitive on Sunday but we will always try to play within the rules.”
Hartley’s comment on
HARTLEY’S COMMENT
“I apologise for comments I made. What I said falls below the standards expected of the captain of Motherwell FC”
HARTLEY’S APOLOGY Cardoso came as he promised Motherwell would not show Steven Gerrard’s side too much respect in Sunday’s Ladbrokes Premiership clash.
“All games have been close and competitive against Rangers and we fully believe we can get a job done and beat them,” he said.
“I know Rangers are one of the bigger teams in this division but we’re not going to sit and try to take a point at home, we are going to go out with the mentality of taking all three points.
“We will show them respect with regards to how they play on the training pitch, but when we cross the white line on Sunday there won’t be much respect shown to be honest.
“A key challenge for us is being brave and playing with courage. If we show them too much respect and let them play their game on Sunday and us not play ours, then it’s going to be a different game and they could probably run away with it. We don’t intend to do that.”
Last season’s Befred Cup semi-final was a torrid affair, with Motherwell winning 2-0 thanks to a double by Louis Moult. The Bowman-cardoso incident sparked a bust-up on the touchline between the two managers and both Pedro Caixinha and Stephen Robinson were sent to the stand.