Heitinga doesn’t blame Vidic for elbow

Everton defender John Heitinga has absolved Manchester United centre-back Nemanja Vidic from any blame after he suffered an eye injury in a challenge with the Serb in Saturday’s game at Old Trafford.

“I have four stitches and it was an elbow,” Heitinga told The Sun. “But we were in the air and I don’t think it was deliberate.

“Vidic said sorry afterwards. It’s football, it can happen.”

Referee Steve Bennett hadn’t seen the incident and therefore didn’t book the Man United defender. With Vidic on the pitch, the Reds enjoyed an easy game and cruised to a 3-0 victory.