Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen Has Moved on from Fernando Torres Scratch Affair

Jan Vertonghen has drawn a line under the Fernando Torres scratch affair, with the Tottenham defender insisting the time has come to move on.

Torres had a running battle with Vertonghen during Chelsea’s draw with Tottenham in September and was sent off after picking up two bookings.

The Spanish forward’s first booking came about when the pair tangled, with Torres scratching Vertonghen—who had tumbled under little or no contact—as the pair exchanged words.

The dismissal of Torres prompted Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to accuse Vertonghen of diving.

Per the Daily Star’s Tony Stenson, Mourinho said:

"

The referee made a very big mistake and it changed the result.

I think the referee is not guilty and the player is guilty.

English players don’t do what happened. He said there was contact and the referee was a long way away. He took away one of the stars of the show.

"

It was felt that Torres would receive a four-match ban for scratching Vertonghen, but he escaped punishment—which Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas labelled a “disgrace” (via the BBC).

The row is threatening to rumble on, but Vertonghen has moved to draw a line under the affair.

Speaking to Sky Sports News’ Gary Cotterill from Belgium’s training camp, Vertonghen said: “Those things happened, but it is okay. We play another game now so I have left it behind.

“I am OK. Like I said, it is finished and I have nothing more to say about it.”

Vertonghen is currently on international duty with Belgium, who sit top of Group A and know a point against Croatia on Friday will guarantee their place at the World Cup finals in Brazil next summer.