Football
PA Sport 9y

Liverpool's Martin Skrtel: I don't feel guilty for alleged David De Gea stamp

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel insists he does not feel guilty about the challenge on Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea which resulted in his three-match ban.

Skrtel, 30, is currently away preparing for Slovakia's Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Luxembourg on Friday, and failed in his appeal against an FA violent conduct charge.

The centre-back had argued the action of standing on De Gea's right shin as he chased a through-ball in the final seconds of Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Anfield was unintentional, but an independent panel disagreed with him.

Skrtel continued to profess his innocence even after his ban was confirmed, which will see him miss Premier League matches against Arsenal and Newcastle plus an FA Cup quarterfinal replay at Blackburn.

"It feels strange because we appealed against those charges and still I was hit by a three-match ban," he wrote on his own official website.

"I didn't want to stamp on him. It was an accident and I didn't do it on purpose. I don't feel guilty. It was a long ball and he went towards me and I wanted to jump over him. Simple as that."

The defender posted a picture of clowns on his Instagram account on Wednesday which has been widely viewed as his comment on those who sat on the panel and decided the outcome of the hearing, but sources told ESPN FC on Wednesday that the FA will not be pursuing the matter.

Skrtel will be joined on the sidelines by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who will also serve a similar three-match ban after being sent off less than a minute after coming on as a substitute for the second half after stamping on United midfielder Ander Herrera.

With Skrtel and several of his teammates away on international duty, the club's under-21s squad have been invited to train at the first-team's Melwood base.

However, one of their number Jordan Lussey will be getting competitive action elsewhere after completed a loan move to Bolton, currently 17th in the Championship.

The 20-year-old follows the likes of Sheyi Ojo and Jerome Sinclair, who have both joined relegation-threatened Championship side Wigan on loan in the last six weeks to gain first-team football experience.

^ Back to Top ^