Fenerbahce defender Martin Skrtel slammed the English press for depicting him as a psychopath following Slovakia’s 1-0 defeat against England on Sunday.
Skrtel stamped on Tottenham striker Harry Kane’s ankle and was subsequently sent off – for a second yellow card offence – but luckily the Spurs striker was not seriously injured.
Skrtel vs Kane pic.twitter.com/zAWQ7fq1te
— PremierHaber (@Premierhabercom) September 4, 2016
The reckless challenge could have resulted in injury and Skrtel can’t blame the referee for sending him off however, he believes that the press have singled him out for years.
“They depict me as a psychopath, like I’m some sort of monster, I hate the way they portray me,” Skrtel was quoted as saying by Fanatik.
“I do not have bad intentions, I have played over 600 games over the course of my career and have only been sent off four or five times which is not a high number for a defender.”
Skrtel had a hard man reputation at Liverpool but has only been sent off twice in 396 games at club level – both for second yellow card offences.
At international level Skrtel has been sent off twice and both times he was dismissed for picking up a second yellow card.
Fenerbahce boss Dick Advocaat recently selected the 31-year-old defender for the Europa League group stage squad.
The Yellow Canaries will take on Manchester United – rivals of Skrtel’s former club Liverpool – in Group A as well as Feyenoord and Zorya Luhansk.
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