Real Madrid appeal to Uefa against José Mourinho's five-match ban

Posted Sunday, June 12, 2011 by theguardian.com

• Touchline ban relates to Champions League semi-final
• Mourinho attacked Barcelona in press conference

Real Madrid appeal to Uefa against José Mourinho's five-match ban
José Mourinho is sent to the stands during Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona.

Real Madrid have lodged an appeal with Uefa against the five-match touchline ban imposed on their coach, José Mourinho.

The Portuguese's punishment relates to the ill-tempered Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona when he was sent to the stands then attacked his opponents in the post-match press conference.

Mourinho has already indicated his intention to take his case to the court of arbitration for sport if necessary.

A Uefa statement read: "Real Madrid have appealed against the disciplinary verdict handed down to Real Madrid coach José Mourinho by the Uefa control and disciplinary body on 6 May, and relating to the Uefa Champions League semi-final first leg between Real Madrid and Barcelona in Madrid on 27 April.

"The appeal follows the sending by Uefa of the reasoned decision on 6 June. The date of the hearing will be communicated in due course."

Mourinho was ordered to the stands after showing his displeasure at the red card shown to Real midfielder Pepe, and afterwards claimed there was a refereeing conspiracy in favour of Real's rivals.

Mourinho said after the game: "Today it's clear that against Barcelona you have no chance. I don't understand why. I don't know if it's the publicity of Unicef [the club's former shirt sponsor], I don't know if it's the friendship of [Spanish football federation president Angel María] Villar at Uefa, where he is vice-president, I don't know if it's because they are very nice, but they have got this power. The rest of us have no chance.

"[Pep] Guardiola is a fantastic coach, but he has won one Champions League which I would be ashamed to win after the scandal at Stamford Bridge and this year, if he wins it again, it will be after the scandal at the Bernabéu.

"I hope that one day he will win a clean Champions League, with no incidents behind it."