BERNE, SWITZERLAND // Gennaro Gattuso, the AC Milan captain, has escaped an assault charge for his headbutt on Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Joe Jordan, Uefa revealed yesterday.
A spokesman said the 33-year-old midfielder had been charged with the lesser offence of gross unsporting conduct which, according to Uefa's disciplinary code, carries a "suspension for one competition match or for a specified period".
Gattuso will find out the extent of his punishment on Monday.
The charge of assault carries a minimum three-match ban and European football's governing body also has a provision for serious assault which would carry a minimum five-match suspension.
Gattuso has apologised for what he called "inexcusable" behaviour.
The former Italy international grabbed Jordan by the throat and pushed him out by the touchline during the Champions League last 16 first leg at the San Siro which Tottenham won 1-0 on Tuesday.
Gattuso also headbutted the Spurs assistant coach after the final whistle before being pulled away by teammates.
The Milan player has already been banned from the second leg after picking up a yellow card in Tuesday's match.
The incident that sparked the bad feeling between Gattuso and Jordan was the late challenge by Matthieu Flamini, the Milan midfielder, on Vedran Corluka, and the Tottenham defender is to see a specialist to discover the seriousness of the injury he suffered to his ankle.
The Croatian had to be carried off on a stretcher after the former Arsenal midfielder flew in with a two-footed challenge on him. He left the stadium on crutches with a protective boot around the injured ankle that bore the brunt of the midfielder's challenge.
He went for a scan on the ankle on Wednesday, but he is almost certainly out of next Tuesday's Premier League match at Blackpool.
