Gold hits out at Fab

Taylor has completed his three-match ban after being sent off against the Gunners three and a half weeks ago for the challenge which saw Eduardo suffer a broken leg, and Fabregas has claimed it is unfair Taylor can return, while Eduardo will be sidelined for a year.

But Gold believes the Spaniard's comments are out of order and said: "Fabregas has got this wrong and I will stand by Martin through thick and thin over this. It may be his opinion but I would ask him to listen to the majority of voices who have been in the main supportive of Taylor."

He added: "It wasn't a malicious tackle, Martin is incapable of such vengeance. Look at the body language.

"Why is Fabregas still talking about this three weeks after the event? I don't deny that Martin has to take responsibility but he (Fabregas) is talking about there being intent.

"Is he saying he thinks Martin went into the tackle to deliberately hurt Eduardo? If he is then it's outrageous and it does the player, his football club and football no favours at all.

"This could have happened to anybody and let's hope Fabregas is not involved in something similar one day where he accidentally injures a player.

"It's time to get off Martin's back and that includes Fabregas and people like Sepp Blatter. They don't know Martin Taylor. I do and I know it was an out-and-out accident with absolutely no meanness of spirit - but he is being demonised.

"This is an ill-informed judgment by Fabregas and it does not stand up because it is 'guess-timation' on his part."

Gold added: "Martin is a professional and will get on with his game, but I fear he will suffer because of this. The incident will stay with him for the rest of his days because he is not the person that Fabregas has portrayed him to be."