Benitez: Cisse is sorry

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has issued an apology of behalf of Djibril Cisse.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has issued an apology of behalf of Djibril Cisse following his controversial behaviour at Newcastle on Sunday.

The French hit-man was booked for pulling his shirt over his head after scoring a penalty in the 3-1 win at St James' Park and then incensed the home crowd by gesturing at those in black and white behind Shay Given's goal.

Benitez responded by quickly getting out an instruction to Jamie Carragher to tell his team-mate to calm down but his gestures were caught by television cameras covering the game.

Benitez is hopeful that the Football Association will not get involved, relaying the message that his striker is apologetic about his wayward conduct in the North East.

''I told him during the game to calm down, and at the end we also talked,'' said Benitez.

"The message on his shirt was for his young son and his family, and he has told me that he wishes to say sorry to the Newcastle fans.

"He hopes it is not a problem. I do not think there will be any further action, it was not a serious incident.

"For him it was really important to score, he had been under a lot of pressure, and maybe his reaction was understandable, after the celebrations he was just sorry about what happened.

"We have talked, he wants to say sorry. He has been trying for a long time to score and he had managed it, I suppose it was a normal reaction.

"Raising his shirt showed a message to his family, maybe it was a bad reaction afterwards but it was a moment in which he was under pressure and he regrets it."