Birmingham City chairman David Gold has jumped to the defence of Martin Taylor after comments made by Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas just before the Blues centre-half is due to make his comeback.
The defender is likely to feature in tonight's reserve clash with Tottenham after completing his three-match ban following the challenge which saw Gunners star Eduardo suffer a broken leg at St Andrew's.
But Fabregas has claimed it is unfair that Taylor can return after missing the games against Tottenham, Portsmouth and Newcastle, while huis team-mate is sidelined for a year.
The Spaniard said: "Of course Taylor will say that he did not do it on purpose. A good player gets injured for a year and the player who makes the free-kick gets suspended for three little games.
"It is very unfair. This type of tackle shouldn't be allowed. It doesn't help football."
But Gold believes the midfielder's comments are nonsense and unnecessary. He said: "Fabregas has got this wrong and I will stand by Martin through thick and thin.
"It may be his opinion but I would ask him to listen to the majority of voices who have been supportive of Taylor. 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.
"If he saying that he thinks Martin went into the tackle to deliberately hurt Eduardo then it's outrageous. It does the player, his football club and the sport no favours at all. This could have happened to anybody.
"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."
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.
"If he was, he would get over it because dirty players do, but Martin is a man of conscience."
