By Chris Wright
Arjen Robben has come out and vehemently denied spurious claims that he spat on Bacary Sagna during last night’s Champions League last-16 tie at the Emirates.
Twitter, Facebook and the like were awash with consternation and diatribe last night when television footage appeared to show Robben allowing a dangle of spittle to fall on the French right-back as he lay face-down on the turf, but the Dutch winger has claimed that it was a bead of sweat and nothing more.
What’s more, he’s also declared that he would never spit at an opponent and that he’s be unable to look his children in the eyes again if he ever did…
Robben: “es war Schweiß, der vom Kopf tropfte. Hätte ich gespuckt, hätte ich nicht nach Hause kommen brauchen.”
— BILD FC Bayern (@BILD_Bayern) February 20, 2014
“It was sweat that dripped from my head. Had I spit, I would not need to come home.”
Bild are also carrying the full quotes from Robben, which read thus:
“I don’t have much hair, and the sweat just dripped off. I must make this clear: I did not spit. I would never do that in my life.
“If I ever did that, you could drag me off the pitch and ban me for 10 games.
“If I ever spat at an opponent, I’d never be able to show my face to my family ever again.”
Pretty adamant.