Wanyama denies claims he is a 'dirty' player
What you need to know:
- The Southampton midfielder is set to miss his club's next five games, a sanction slapped on him for accumulating three red and six yellow cards over the course of the English Premier League this season.
- Wanyama saw red for the third time in 13 matches this campaign during his club's match against West Ham on Saturday.
- Wanyama's absence will be a big blow to his team. He has played a vital role in the club's impressive performances during the last three seasons and especially after the transfer of Morgan Schneiderlin to Manchester United at the start of the season.
- Sections of the English media have also reported that Wanyama could face separate sanctions from the club, with an equivalent fine of two weeks wages being mooted.
Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has responded to the five-match ban handed to him by the English Football Association by insisting he is not a “dirty player”.
The Southampton midfielder is set to miss his club's next five games, a sanction slapped on him for accumulating three red and six yellow cards over the course of the English Premier League this season.
Wanyama saw red for the third time in 13 matches this campaign during his club's match against West Ham on Saturday.
Disappointingly, the sending off happened in the presence of the player's immediate family who were in attendance.
The 24-year-old player however insists he has just been "unlucky".
UNLUCKY
"I have been unlucky at times you know," Wanyama told the Daily Nation Sport.
"All the cards have come because of mistimed tackles, or so the referee thought.
None for violent conduct, abusive language or such a thing. Obviously, I am so disappointed because of this outcome and owing to the fact that I won't be playing for a long time."
Wanyama's absence will be a big blow to his team. He has played a vital role in the club's impressive performances during the last three seasons and especially after the transfer of Morgan Schneiderlin to Manchester United at the start of the season.
FURTHER SANCTIONS
Sections of the English media have also reported that Wanyama could face separate sanctions from the club, with an equivalent fine of two weeks wages being mooted.
The Daily Mirror also reports that the accumulation of cards might cost the former Celtic FC player a move to a more established club.
Wanyama has consistently been linked with a lucrative move to Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Meanwhile, former Harambee Stars coach James Siang'a however believes Southampton coach Ronald Koeman should be more supportive of his players in public.
"The coach has been very critical of the boy's (Wanyama's) decisions. Yet this is someone who does the dirty job for him. My take is that this isn't the best way to handle such a problem," Siang'a said.
