Source: Daily_Mail
Ridiculous! Gold slams claims Spurs star Modric was deliberately injured
Birmingham chairman David Gold has dismissed a suggestion that Croatia playmaker Luka Modric may have been deliberately injured by Lee Bowyer as 'absolutely ridiculous'.
The president of the Croatian federation claims the injury suffered by his country's star player Modric has left him wondering whether Croatia's top stars are being deliberately targeted for rough treatment in the Premier League.
Luka Modric
Blow: Luka Modric picked up his injury during Tottenham's clash with Birmingham
Vlatko Markovic spoke out after Modric suffered a broken leg playing for Tottenham against Birmingham at the weekend which will sideline him for around two months, with Croatia set to face England in a crucial World Cup qualifier at Wembley next week.
It follows on from an even more severe injury suffered by Arsenal striker Eduardo - also against Birmingham - in February 2008 which meant he was unavailable when the sides met in the reverse fixture in Zagreb last September.
Luka Modric
Ruled out: Luka Modric will be out of action for two months
Markovic said: 'First Eduardo, now Luka Modric. This is horrible. I can only ask myself if it was really an accident.
Birmingham chairman David Gold
Claims dismissed: Birmingham chairman David Gold
'I'm close to thinking it was done to us deliberately before the England match. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what happened to Luka. He is irreplaceable.'
But City chairman Gold told BBC radio: 'It's quite unbelievable. I had to check it wasn't April 1, I thought it was a joke.
'To suggest a conspiracy is nonsense. To suggest it was a deliberate act by English players to weaken the Croatia squad is absolutely ridiculous.
'Maybe the problem is the statement by the Croatian official has completely been lost in translation?'
England will be looking for a win against Croatia next Wednesday that would book their place in the World Cup finals.
They thrashed the Croatians last year, but many supporters will also recall a nightmare 3-2 defeat at Wembley in 2007 that cost England a place in the European Championship.
