Pablo Counago has denied spitting at Andy Butler after Ipswich appealed against the striker's red card.
Ipswich appeal against striker's red card
Pablo Counago has denied spitting at Scunthorpe United defender Andy Butler after Ipswich Town appealed against the striker's red card.
The Spaniard was sent off during Ipswich's 2-1 win at Glanford Park on Saturday following clashes with Iron duo Butler and Jack Cork.
After the match, Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins claimed Counago spat at Butler, but the forward has rejected the accusations.
"The No.18 (Butler) was leading with his elbow raised and he caught me in the face," Counago told the club's
official website.
Criminal
"He cut my mouth and I had blood in my mouth. I did spit out the blood, but not in his face. He is three or four yards away from me. It could not have happened.
"The comments from their manager have upset me. When you read the papers and hear him say that I spat in the player's face, it makes me feel very bad. It makes out that I am a criminal.
"Probably their manager believes his player when he said I spat at him. I can understand that, but it was not right.
"Their manager speaks about respecting the game of football. I have never spat at a player in my life. What about the player elbowing me? Where is the respect in that? They kicked me without the ball being there. Where is the respect in that?
"Of course maybe it is wrong to spit on the pitch anyway, but it was not at the player and I was spitting out the blood."
Handbags
Ipswich manager Jim Magilton has confirmed the club have lodged an appeal in the hope of having Counago's three-match ban overturned.
Magilton said: "We have looked at the video and it's 'handbags' at best. We think we have grounds for appeal and will be putting together video evidence to back our case.
"I think the referee could have pulled the two of them [Counago and Cork] together and told them to 'grow up' and left it at that."
