Real Madrid’s Mourinho appeals UEFA ban

Posted Friday, July 29, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is appearing before UEFA’s appeal panel to challenge his five-match ban from Champions League matches.

Mourinho accused UEFA and its referees of a long-standing conspiracy to help rival Barcelona after his team lost 2-0 in a semifinal first-leg match in April.

He was also sent from the dugout during the game.

UEFA’s disciplinary body said the Portuguese coach made “inappropriate” comments.

Mourinho is currently banned from entering the stadium and communicating with players and coaches at Madrid’s next three group-stage matches.

He was banned for the return leg in Barcelona and another match of his ban was suspended for three years.

UEFA’s verdict is expected later Friday.

Under UEFA rules, Mourinho can later appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if his final sanction is at least three matches.

Mourinho’s rant at the European football authority and its referees came after his team was outplayed by Barcelona at its home Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on April 27.

His outburst helped ensure that media coverage of an eagerly anticipated, but one-sided, match focused on him as much as his team.

In a post-match news conference, Mourinho listed the referees who he said gave Barcelona favorable decisions in UEFA matches.

“Every semifinal the same thing always happens. Why? I’ll live my whole life with this question but I hope one day to get the answer,” Mourinho said.

Mourinho described it as a “scandal” that Chelsea, his former club, was denied penalty appeals against Barcelona in 2009.

It was a “miracle” that Mourinho’s 10-man Inter Milan eliminated Barcelona in the semifinals last year, he said.

Mourinho was angered when Madrid was reduced to 10 men early in the second half when midfielder Pepe was shown a red card for a challenge on Dani Alves.

German referee Wolfgang Stark then dismissed the Madrid coach who was also seen on television directing sarcastic comments at the fourth official.

A volatile encounter between the Spanish rivals also saw a scuffle between players from both teams behind the dugouts as they left the field at half time.

Barcelona advanced to the final after the return leg was drawn 1-1.

The Catalan club won its third European title in five years by beating Manchester United 3-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium.