Source: Telegraph
Slaven Bilic rails at Eduardo's treatment ahead of Croatia's clash with England
Arsenal are set to appeal against the ban on Thursday after the Brazilian-born Croatian international was accused of diving to win a penalty in last week's 3-1 Champions League win over Celtic. [LNB]Slaven Bilic, the Croatian manager, called the decision a "disgrace". Bilic said: "We are talking about a player who is a role model of a sportsman. I simply cannot understand how he can be punished."[LNB] Related ArticlesGordon: Eduardo's ban 'worth it'Eduardo 'dive' debateDefoe spurred on by World Cup painCahill joins England squadArsenal blast Eduardo banArsenal fight Eduardo chargeEduardo is expected to feature against Belarus in Saturday's qualifier, though Bilic may not risk him for the full 90 minutes, as he sees the player as crucial to his plans at Wembley.[LNB]Surprisingly, Eduardo found an ally north of the border when Sunderland's Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon admitted that the ban could be "worth it".[LNB]Gordon said: "For a goalkeeper, it is infuriating when you don't touch someone and they have won a penalty and himself and his club a place in the group stages of the Champions League.[LNB]"That is worth £16 million and he has probably got close to £100,000 in bonuses, so you can see what it means to players and why someone would do that.[LNB]"It's not nice but I don't see how we can stamp it out. He got a two-match ban. [LNB]"Is it worth it for getting to the group stages where they will possibly progress from that? It probably is to guarantee your team a place in that competition.[LNB]"It's not a massive thing in our country but if a Scotland player does it and we end up getting to the play-offs then do we still feel as badly about it? I'm not sure."[LNB]Meanwhile, Arsenal confirmed last night that both Denilson, their Brazilian midfielder, and striker Nicklas Bendtner had signed new long-term contracts.[LNB][LNB]
