Nacional coach Jokanovic in hot water after attack on Cajuda

Guimaraes president calls for lifetime ban

Nacional da Madeira coach Predrag Jokanovic is facing a suspension of up to three years from football after attempting to physically attack his opposite number, Manuel Cajuda, at the end of yesterday’s Bwin Liga match.

The hosts beat high-flying Guimaraes 1-0 but immediately after the final whistle was blown Jokanovic ran to the visitors’ dugout, launched a verbal tirade against Cajuda, and had to be restrained as he attempted to get to the coach.

The extraordinary behaviour of the Serbian did not end there. After the situation seemed to have calmed down, with the help of the police, Jokanovic again launched himself at Cajuda in the players’ tunnel.

TV pictures did not show what went on inside the plastic tunnel, but judging by the buffeting the structure received it was far from pacific.

Match referee Paulo Baptista brandished the Serbian with the red card, and a furious Guimaraes president, Emilio Macedo, has called for the authorities to ban the coach from Portuguese football for good.

The Portuguese Football Disciplinary Committee will sit to analyse the referee’s report and study the evidence, and if it is proved that Jokanovic made an attempted assault or incited violence, the stipulated punishment runs from three months to three years, not to mention substantial fines.

Bad history

Jokanovic was quick to defend himself, however, giving his version of events. “It all started in Guimaraes. During the interval of the league game there Manuel Cajuda said that, at the end of the match, he would ‘break my face’,” explained Jokanovic.

The two teams then faced each other in the Portuguese Cup and there was a failed attempt at reconciliation. “At the time the assistant coach, Nascimento, came up to me and said that Cajuda wanted to apologise, but this didn’t happen.”

“When the match finished today I went to him and said, ‘If you want to break my face, now’s your chance.’ There was some pushing and shoving but no assault.”

Jokanovic went on to admit he regretted his reaction but also made a point of criticising Cajuda. “I’m young and I have a lot to learn with my elders, but I have nothing to learn from this man.”