Leicester boss defends Vardy over Nasri cheat claim

London (AFP) – Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare has rubbished Samir Nasri’s claim that Jamie Vardy cheated to get him sent off during the English champions’ dramatic Champions League win over Sevilla.

Referee Daniele Orsato gave Nasri a second yellow card after he and England striker Vardy butted heads on Tuesday, and Leicester went on to secure a 2-0 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.

On-loan Manchester City midfielder Nasri felt Vardy conned the official by making too much of the clash to get the Frenchman sent off: “For me he’s a cheat because if he was a foreign player you, the English press, would be saying he’s a cheat. They were winning 2-0, play the game like a man.”

But Shakespeare responded on Thursday with a strong defence of Vardy.

“Jamie’s not a cheat and never has been, never will be. I think Jamie responded well to the comment and we have to put it to bed,” he said. 

“The game has gone, the referee made his decision and we have to move on.”