Barcelona star accused of SPITTING at Inter Milan’s Acerbi as reason for half-time brawl ‘revealed’

BARCELONA star Inigo Martinez has been accused of spitting at Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi.

Acerbi reacted angrily to his opponent’s apparent attack, sparking a flare-up on the brink of half-time.

Inigo Martinez has been accused of spitting at Francesco Acerbi

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The incident sparked a brawl, with Acerbi furious[/caption]

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The defender was fuming with his opponent and had to be ushered away[/caption]

Reuters

VAR reviewed the incident but deemed no punishment necessary[/caption]

It came following Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty which put Inter 2-0 up.

Martinez tried to distract the Turk before he converted from the spot, according to Marca.

That prompted Acerbi to celebrate by running past Martinez, shouting in his face.

Martinez is accused of responding by spitting at the Italian.

Acerbi is then said to have confronted his fellow defender, sparking the melee.

He was ushered away by his own team-mates and Barca’s Pedri, while furiously gesturing and shouting at Martinez.

Referee Szymon Marciniak also intervened to calm the situation and VAR got involved to check whether a red card offence was committed.

The review ended with no players receiving even a yellow card.

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Some on the Inter bench ran on the pitch to get involved after the half-time whistle before the bust-up fizzled out.

Acerbi had the last laugh, too, as he netted a 90th-minute equaliser to send the tie to extra-time, where team-mate Davide Frattesi netted Inter’s winner.

Acerbi celebrates after scoring a 90th minute equaliserAP