May 5, 2008 5:34 PM

SOURCE:
goal.com

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Nani: I Was Provoked

Manchester United winger Nani has apologized for his unmannered action against West Ham, but said that he was provoked by Hammers stopper Lucas Neill...

The Portuguese international received his marching orders against West Ham 37 minutes into the first-half after head-butting Lucas Neill in a game that ended with a 4-1 win for The Red Devils.

As a result of his challenge, Nani will receive a £60,000 fine and will miss Manchester United's next three Premier League fixtures.

And while the 21-year-old acknowledges that his action against Neill was unreflected, he did not avoid putting part of the blame on West Ham.

"I recognize that my action was thoughtless, but I also have to say that I was provoked and assaulted," he told Gestifute Media. "I know that it does not justify what I did, but that's exactly what happened.

"I am sorry about what I did and I can only thank my team-mates for having secured a win that was very important."

After the game against West Ham, Manchester United's players waved goodbye to their supporters as it was their last game of the season at Old Trafford. Nani did not join them.

"It was very complicated," he explained. "At that time, I only wanted to disappear and that's exactly what I did. And for that too, I want to apologize to the club and supporters.

"Since I left right away, I did not have time to be with my team at the end of the game. But I will be in the dressing room on Tuesday to fix my mistake, which means, to personally apologize to my team-mates and my coaches for my action."