TURIN, Italy, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Juventus and France midfielder Zinedine Zidane has apologised for his sending off in Tuesday's Champions League defeat to Hamburg.

'I am very unhappy about what happened, and I know full well that behaving like that put my team mates in a difficult position.

'The pressure on the pitch led me to react in an instinctive manner that was produced by the tension of the moment. This is why I feel the need to apologise,' the player said in a statement on Juve's official website.

Zidane is likely to face a lengthy suspension by UEFA's disciplinary committee on Friday.

The former World Player of the Year was dismissed in the 29th minute for head-butting Hamburg defender Jochen Kientz, and team mate Edgar Davids was dismissed four minutes later for a second bookable offence.

Playing with nine men for the remaining 57 minutes, Juventus lost 3-1 and must now win their final game away to Greek club Panathinaikos to be sure of a place in the second phase of the competition.

[via ESPN.com.]