Di Natale apologises for gesture

Udinese star Antonio Di Natale has apologised to any supporters that were offended by the gesture he made during the match against Catania.

The Italian forward brought his finger up to his lips after scoring a last-minute equaliser in the Serie A game that finished 2-2, seemingly an act of defiance following the home team’s obvious displeasure at their team’s performance.

“The gesture I made on Wednesday was instinctive, made at the end of a tough game, a very nervous one, and it has been considered worse than what it was,” Di Natale told the club’s official site.

“I love Udine, the town, this shirt and our fans, who have always made me feel one of them. I owe everything to this club that has believed in me ever since and to these fans who have always loved me like a son.”

Di Natale was dropped by coach Francesco Guidolin in September after a disagreement but the veteran striker has insisted he has always cared about the club and has always been professional.

“I am sorry if anyone felt offended by my gesture on Wednesday night, so I apologise to all the Friulian (Udinese) fans, but I believe that my personal and professional history show better than any word how much I care about this land and these colours,” he said.