Tweet
Racist chants were ridiculous, says Mido
By Rob Stewart
Last Updated: 10:32pm BST 28/08/2007
Middlesbrough's new Egyptian international, Mido, yesterday hit back at the Newcastle supporters who taunted him with anti-Islamic chants during the Tyne-Tees derby.
The striker described as "ridiculous" the fans who subjected him to chants of ''Mido, he's got a bomb," and appeared more concerned with the booking he received for "security" reasons after he silenced his detractors.
advertisement
"I am used to it from opposition fans," said Mido, 24. "I just think it was ridiculous. I was really frustrated when the referee gave me a yellow card as I don't think I deserved a booking, but that is football I suppose and you just have to get on with it. It made me want to score more goals.
"I was very delighted to have scored once and wanted another. But I heard it. It was very clear and I understood what they were saying."
Asked if he was offended by the chants during Sunday's 2-2 draw, the Egyptian said: "Maybe some of them were drunk or something, I don't know." Mido was cautioned by referee Mike Dean after cancelling out Charles N'Zogbia's opening goal when he responded to the chants by making a 'hush' sign in front of the 3,000-strong band of visiting supporters. "I just don't understand why I got booked," he said. "I was told it was for security reasons but I don't see how that is possible. I don't see what I did that would affect security of the fans. I just put my finger to my mouth to say quiet."
Everton reacted with fury last night to Manuel Fernandes' u-turn less than 48 hours after he had left Goodison Park with the club convinced he had agreed a contract. Yesterday, the Benfica midfielder was unveiled by Valencia having signed a six-year deal for a fee of £12.2 million - exactly the price Everton thought they had agreed with the Portuguese club.
Sources at Goodison spoke of having been "double-crossed" by Fernandes, who had left the ground at 8pm on Saturday after watching Everton's 1-1 draw with Blackburn and having already had his medical.
Fernandes, who had impressed Everton in a loan spell last season that included a spectacular goal against Manchester United, gave the club no indication he had undergone a change of heart.
Negotiations to bring the 21-year-old from Lisbon to Merseyside had been drawn out and complicated by the fact that, like Carlos Tevez, he is part-owned by a third party, the Global Sports Agency.
By Rob Stewart
Last Updated: 10:32pm BST 28/08/2007
Middlesbrough's new Egyptian international, Mido, yesterday hit back at the Newcastle supporters who taunted him with anti-Islamic chants during the Tyne-Tees derby.
The striker described as "ridiculous" the fans who subjected him to chants of ''Mido, he's got a bomb," and appeared more concerned with the booking he received for "security" reasons after he silenced his detractors.
advertisement
"I am used to it from opposition fans," said Mido, 24. "I just think it was ridiculous. I was really frustrated when the referee gave me a yellow card as I don't think I deserved a booking, but that is football I suppose and you just have to get on with it. It made me want to score more goals.
"I was very delighted to have scored once and wanted another. But I heard it. It was very clear and I understood what they were saying."
Asked if he was offended by the chants during Sunday's 2-2 draw, the Egyptian said: "Maybe some of them were drunk or something, I don't know." Mido was cautioned by referee Mike Dean after cancelling out Charles N'Zogbia's opening goal when he responded to the chants by making a 'hush' sign in front of the 3,000-strong band of visiting supporters. "I just don't understand why I got booked," he said. "I was told it was for security reasons but I don't see how that is possible. I don't see what I did that would affect security of the fans. I just put my finger to my mouth to say quiet."
Everton reacted with fury last night to Manuel Fernandes' u-turn less than 48 hours after he had left Goodison Park with the club convinced he had agreed a contract. Yesterday, the Benfica midfielder was unveiled by Valencia having signed a six-year deal for a fee of £12.2 million - exactly the price Everton thought they had agreed with the Portuguese club.
Sources at Goodison spoke of having been "double-crossed" by Fernandes, who had left the ground at 8pm on Saturday after watching Everton's 1-1 draw with Blackburn and having already had his medical.
Fernandes, who had impressed Everton in a loan spell last season that included a spectacular goal against Manchester United, gave the club no indication he had undergone a change of heart.
Negotiations to bring the 21-year-old from Lisbon to Merseyside had been drawn out and complicated by the fact that, like Carlos Tevez, he is part-owned by a third party, the Global Sports Agency.
Comment