Santos: I'm the Victim

By: Tony Hamilton
Date: 22/10/2002

GRIMSBY Town's Georges Santos has decided he won't change the way he plays after his second sending off in his last four outings. But the Cape Verdi international says he's being made a victim after his notorious sending off at Bramall lane against Nottingham Forest last season.

Santos' contract with Grimsby runs out in the next few days, and after being sent off against Rotherham on Saturday, he thought he had put his future with the Mariners was in doubt. However, Town player boss Paul Groves has decided to give Santos a season-long contract and was holding talks with the player this afternoon.

Grimsby Town have decided to appeal against Santos's sending off against Rotherham and are sending the video of the game to match referee Richard Beeby.

"I was disappointed with being sent off" Santos told the Grimsby Telegraph, adding: "I haven't seen the video but my team mates have said that I didn't deserve to be sent off. Garner pushed me and I pushed him back in his face! I feel very hard done by and I think the thing at Sheffield last season means that referees are looking for me to send me off.

The 32-year-old says he has no intention of changing his uncompromising physical style: "On Saturday I went for the tackle and then that happened. That is the way I play football. I am sorry for that, but I cannot change.

"I have played lots of games in England and they are changing the rules. There were Rotherham people swearing at the referee and he didn't do anything. No yellow cards, no red cards, that's not fair.

"I regret the way I reacted but I didn't give the player a punch. He pushed me and I pushed him back.

"If I gave him a punch, I am 6ft 5in and he is 5ft 2in, he would have been floored."

Santos has a desire to stay with the Mariners and admitted he is gutted by the three-match ban which will rule him out of the home matches against Gillingham and Preston as well as the trip to Stoke

Santos was making only his second start for the Mariners on Saturday since leaving Bramall Lane in a cloud after the notorious match against West Brom in March, when he was dismissed for a waist high tackle on the Baggie's Andy Johnson that ended his Blades' career.

"I have no idea if The Mariners will change their minds. They wanted me to sign until the end of the season before the game last week. I am still hoping to talk and I want to stay at the club.

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