I lost control, says Gattuso after headbutt on Spurs assistant Joe Jordan

Gennaro Gattuso could be facing a lengthy European ban after his headbutt on Joe Jordan took the gloss off Tottenham's fine 1-0 win over AC Milan at the San Siro last night.

Spurs wrote another chapter in what has already been a remarkable debut season in the Champions League when they beat the seven-time European Champions thanks to Peter Crouch's 80th-minute winner

The first leg was over-shadowed, though, by ugly scenes that dogged the match throughout.

Matthieu Flamini was extremely lucky to escape with only a yellow card for a flying two-footed challenge on Vedran Corluka and Gattuso headbutted Jordan after the final whistle.

The former Rangers midfielder also squared up to the Spurs assistant coach and pushed him in the face on the touchline during a frenetic second half.

The 32-year-old combative midfielder picked up a yellow card in the second half, meaning he will miss the second leg of the last-16 tie next month, but he may yet be banned for longer.

"I lost control. There is no excuse for what I did. I take my responsibilities for that," Gattuso said after the match.

"I was nervous. I didn't want to argue with players and I did it with him, but I was wrong to do what I have done."

Harry Redknapp was not impressed by Gattuso's conduct but saved his sternest condemnation for Flamini, whose challenge on Corluka could rule the Croatian out for some time.

Referee Stephane Lannoy ruled the challenge only merited a booking, but Redknapp claimed the former Arsenal man should have seen red, and wants UEFA to take retrospective action.

"The tackle from Flamini was horrendous," Redknapp said.

"He was two feet off the floor. It was a leg-breaking tackle. He's done some damage to him.

"He'll probably have an x-ray tomorrow.

"I don't think there's anything broken but he could have broken his leg, easily.

"I'd like them (UEFA) to have a look at that tackle. How he doesn't give him a red card, I don't know. That's a tackle that breaks people's legs."

Last night's game was nothing like the pulsating 4-3 loss to Inter Milan at the San Siro in November or the Gareth Bale-inspired victory in the reverse fixture, but Redknapp did not care one bit.

He did warn, however, that Spurs must put on just as good a performance at White Hart Lane in three weeks' time to make it through to the last eight.

He said: "It was a fantastic performance from us but it's still all to play for. It's only half-time.

"They've still got dangerous players coming back, as probably we will so it'll be an interesting second leg."

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