Carli: Denis lost his head


Empoli sporting director Marcello Carli believes German Denis lost his head when he punched Lorenzo Tonelli.
Denis is understood to have attacked Tonelli in the Empoli changing room after the defender threatened Atalanta’s captain and his family during the match, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Atalanta director Pierpaolo Marino earlier blamed Tonelli for provoking the Argentine striker and compared the incident to Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi’s infamous clash.
Carli defended his player in a Press conference today and warned against hasty judgments.
“I'm here to protect Tonelli, who’s been made to look like a criminal in the last few hours,” he said.
“We do not accept these inaccurate versions of what happened. Tonelli didn’t wait for Denis in the tunnel, absolutely not. Denis came into our dressing room and threw a punch at him - that is the truth.
“And all of this happened because of one glaring error in the life of a boy who is extraordinary, with a wonderful family, who for two minutes lost his head and did something very serious.
“Those who make a mistake pay for it in life. Cigarini blocked Tonelli, who wanted to react. The Atalanta player has committed an act of stupidity and now the prosecutor will decide.
“Tonelli must be calm, peaceful and honest. It’s a joke that he can be taken for a Mafioso or a criminal just for taking a punch.
“I’m not here to condemn Denis – he’s condemned himself. We will not speak about this anymore, this is the position of Empoli.
“I’m not here to exaggerate what Denis did, his ban doesn’t matter to me.
“If the referee writes in the report that he heard serious threats, then yes, Tonelli deserves a ban.
“If he’s disqualified because of the words of Marino then this becomes a real mess. Denis lost his head, it’s something that can always happen and nothing to do with football violence.”
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