Euro brawl: Valencia and Inter charged

Uefa has charged Valencia and Inter Milan with improper conduct following the mass brawl which broke out after their 0-0 Champions League draw at the Mestalla.

The Spaniards booked their place in the quarter-finals of European club football's most prestigious competition by virtue of the away goals rule following their 2-2 first-leg draw.

But any celebrations were cut short as tempers flared at the final whistle with Valencia midfielder Carlos Marchena kicking out at Inter's Nicolas Burdisso.

The incident sparked the brawl and Valencia substitute David Navarro, who had not featured in the match, ran on to the middle of the pitch and punched Burdisso who fell to the ground.

The Argentine midfielder suffered a broken nose and a number of his team-mates tried to trip up fleeing centre-back Navarro before the fracas spilled over into the tunnel where Valencia's Luis Figo and Inter's Esteban Cambiasso were involved in scuffles and visiting goalkeeper Francesco Toldo entered the home side's dressing room.

Navarro has apologised for his role in the mass brawl, saying: "I saw that they were trying to attack a team-mate, and I lost my nerve. I have never behaved in this fashion before, and I will never do it again. I am very sorry and ashamed."

The defender, who intends to contact Burdisso to apologise in person, added: "I have not yet been able to see the images (of the incident), nor the reaction of the Inter players in our changing room. I was in another room. It has been a lamentable incident."

Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores said about the incident: "I hope that the punishment is minimal and affects us as little as possible. The tension of football generates these situations and affects our good sense."

Inter coach Roberto Mancini added after seeing the ugly scenes on TV: "Now I have seen the footage, I can say that the Valencia player is a coward. There's nothing else you can say about someone who throws a punch like that then runs away."

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