Gennaro Gattuso will not travel to Tottenham

Gattuso is banned from the match in any case (Reuters)

Gennaro Gattuso has confirmed he will not be travelling with AC Milan to White Hart Lane for the return leg of their Champions League last-32 clash with Tottenham.

Spurs were 1-0 winners at the San Siro last week, but the match was overshadowed by an angry confrontation at the end between Gattuso and Tottenham coach Joe Jordan.

The 33-year-old midfielder was subsequently handed a four-match ban by UEFA for assaulting Jordan, and has now decided not to support his team-mates in London for his own safety.

"I would like to go to White Hart Lane for the second leg but I have been advised not to," he told Italian radio.

"I have been told there will be 47,000 people there just waiting to give me a slap, so I will stay in Milan."

Gattuso also hinted UEFA's punishment had been harsh on him, adding: "At least they didn't throw me in jail for a month."