Ex-West Ham & Villa man Reo-Coker: ‘Fabregas pull on Saelemaekers inexcusable’ – Football Italia

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Cesc Fabregas, Head Coach of Como 1907, gives the team instructions during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder turned CBS Sports Golazo pundit Nigel Reo-Coker has said that Como coach Cesc Fabregas’ controversial pull on Alexis Saelemaekers was ‘inexcusable” and “completely wrong.”

The story has been much-discussed over the past week, after the incident took place in the 1-1 draw between Milan and Como on Wednesday.

Fabregas pull on Saelemaekers ‘inexcusable’

Saelemaekers was defending for Milan along the touchline when Como coach Fabregas physically intervened with the Belgian and held his shirt, allowing Como to break up the pitch.

Saelemaekers span around instantly, in fury, and the Como coach has since apologised for the incident.

However, in the pre-match discussion for Milan’s match against Parma, Reo-Coker and his fellow pundits once again discussed the incident.

“To do that, it’s inexcusable… It’s completely wrong.”

Nigel Reo-Coker, @MikeGrella10 and @T_Deeney weigh in on Cesc Fàbregas making contact with AC Milan’s Alexis Saelemaekers🗣️ pic.twitter.com/x3OaqDGoVx

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 22, 2026