Birmingham City Football Club News

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1875
• Manager:Chris Hughton

• Ground:St Andrew's
• Capacity:30,016

McFadden blast for Wenger

25 Feb 2008 - 12:39:57

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Scotland international James McFadden is adamant that his Birmingham City team-mate Martin Taylor did not mean to hurt Arsenal striker Eduardo in Saturday's St Andrew's encounter between the two sides.

The Croatian star has endured surgery for a double compound fracture of his leg in the wake of the horrific incident that occurred in the opening stages of the 2-2 draw.

Immediately after the match, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said Taylor should not be allowed to play football again and, although the Frenchman retracted the comments later on Saturday, McFadden was unimpressed.

"I heard what Arsene Wenger said about Martin and thought it was ridiculous for a manager of his stature to be saying a player should never play football again," he said.

"I don't think comments like that should ever be banded about in football because you can see he has not tried to injure the player and he doesn't have a history of being malicious.

"He is a gentle giant and to suggest otherwise is ridiculous.

"Martin has to live with the fact he has broken someone's leg unintentionally. You have to think about Martin as well as the lad who has been injured.

"Martin is cut up. It was not intentional and he broke someone's leg so he is going to be shaking from that.

"Wenger hasn't helped things. Wenger is an intelligent man and it is scandalous to be saying things like that. I think it is out of order and I think it is unfair on Martin."