Italian club AS Roma have released a statement confirming that they assisted relevant authorities with information after the alleged assault on Bodo/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen. According to Football Italia.
“The Norwegian coach was allegedly assaulted by Roma goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos following the end of Bodo/Glimt’s 2-1 Europa Conference League win over the Giallorossi yesterday. The Portuguese trainer reportedly grabbed Knutsen by the neck and pushed him against a wall in rage.”
“AS Roma would like to note that, following the conclusion of the match on Thursday evening, club directors and other members of the coaching staff remained at the Aspmyra Stadion until 00:45 local time, purely for the purpose of providing UEFA and local authorities with all the details of what transpired in the areas outside the changing rooms following the full-time whistle.
“The club has total confidence that UEFA and its various bodies will ultimately establish with clarity and precision where responsibility lies for the events that occurred, events that we have already described and explained in detail to all the relevant authorities present on site.
“Finally, the club would like to emphasise that it has always conducted itself in a manner that upholds the values of fair play and sportsmanship, both on and off the pitch: the same principles that we hope will be on display throughout next week’s second leg.”
Bodo/Glimt made it public the intention to file a police complaint against Nuno Santos earlier today, claiming that UEFA’s initial response was insufficient.
Nuno Santos has on many occasions found himself in situations like this as a result of his short temper; during stay at Tottenham, also under Mourinho, he was given a one-match ban and handed an £8000 fine after verbally abusing the referee following a 1-1 draw with Newcastle.
