Benfica midfielder Augustin Binya plans to call Scott Brown to apologise for the challenge which could have broken the Celtic and Scotland star's leg.

Binya was sent off in Tuesday's Champions League Group D clash at Celtic Park after lunging at Brown in the closing stages.

However he insists there was no malice behind a challenge, even though Brown has claimed it was a deliberate attempt by the Cameroonian to cause serious injury.

Binya said in the Portuguese press: "I raised my right foot to the opponent but I didn't intend to injure him. It was a strong challenge.

"I tried to look for Scott Brown at the end of the game because I wanted to excuse myself, but I couldn't see him.

"I'll try to speak with him by telephone but I also want to take this opportunity to make a public apology."

Uefa have confirmed they will investigate the tackle which saw Binya catch Brown just beneath his right knee.

Binya was shown a straight red card by Swedish referee Martin Hansson, and Brown was substituted shortly afterwards, although he seemed to escape without serious injury.

Brown urged Uefa to take further action against the Benfica player who could face a longer suspension that the standard one-match ban.

The governing body will decide later this month whether he should face further sanctions.

A Uefa spokesman said: "This will be on the agenda of the next control and disciplinary body meeting on November 15th.

"There will be at least a one-match ban but all red cards are judged individually so we will need to wait until the meeting to see if there will be a further ban."

Referee Hansson said in the Daily Express: "I couldn't say it was the worst tackle I've ever seen because I've refereed a lot of matches and seen a lot of bad challenges.

"But it is certainly one of the worst tackles and there is no doubt in my mind it fully merited a straight red card."