"Adding the year I played in Verona, my three years of efficiency in Italy are the experiences I cherish most. Now my daughter lives in Milan, we can all speak Italian, and her job is to teach children in a local school to speak English." During his playing days, Joel Jordan once played for AC Milan and Verona, and currently, his daughter also lives in Italy. Jordan said: "He doesn't even understand that I regard playing for Milan as the proudest period of my career. My daughter now lives and works in Italy, and I love Italy and its people."
"If Gattuso wants to excuse his actions, he should come up with better stories; this is too pitiful." Gattuso was charged by UEFA with "serious breach of sports ethics" for choking Jordan's neck during a Champions League match against Tottenham and then headbutting him. After the game, Gattuso's agent came out saying that Jordan had called Gattuso an "Italian bastard," which seemed to have a disdainful tone towards Italians, but Jordan angrily refuted this claim.
"I have many friends in Milan and Verona, I love Italy, and I have deep feelings for the people there. Could someone like me say those words Gattuso claims? I think it's very pitiful that he fabricates such rumors."
"In my life, Italy has been a significant part, now and in the future. AC Milan is an extraordinary club, and I feel extremely lucky to have played for them. There were many beautiful moments in my career, and signing with Milan was the best one. It gave me a proud chapter in my career."
"Fabricating such lies is truly pitiful!" Jordan said, "This is completely false, just an attempt to justify his actions."
Harry Redknapp, Tottenham's manager who was standing nearby at the time, said he didn't hear Jordan say that at all. He thought Gattuso's side was playing the ethnic discrimination card, trying to smear Jordan. Jordan himself was furious, breaking his silence to state that he could never have said such things.