Soccer:Tottenham coach Joe Jordan has branded Gennaro Gattuso "pathetic" after the AC Milan midfielder claimed a racist remark provoked his headbutt this week.

Gattuso has been charged with "gross unsporting conduct" by Uefa after headbutting former Milan striker Jordan following Spurs' 1-0 Champions League last-16 first-leg win at the San Siro on Tuesday.

Uefa's control and disciplinary body will discuss the case against the 33-year-old Italian next Monday. His agent Claudio Pasqualin and his club have insinuated that Jordan provoked him, and possibly with a racist comment.

"It's just a nonsense, it really is," said Jordan. "It's a figment of his imagination and, I have to say, not a great imagination, at that. If he wanted to try and explain his behaviour, you would have thought he might have come up with something better than that.

"It's pathetic. Completely and utterly untrue and quite pathetic. He will have to address his conduct overall, and account for himself to Uefa, but the allegation he has made is something else. I'm not having that, because Italy has played an important part in my life and will continue to.

"Milan are an exceptional club and I consider myself very fortunate to have played for them. I had plenty of high points in my career, but signing for them was the best thing I did. They gave me a chapter in my career I always hankered after, a spell playing abroad, and I could not have picked a better club.

"I love Italy and have always had an affinity with the people. Does that sound like someone who would come out with the sort of line Gattuso has got his agent to say? I just find it pathetic on his part, I really do."