Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has been handed a one-match Champions League ban and a fine after UEFA found him guilty of improper conduct relating to the recent dismissals of players Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos.
Mourinho has been banned from the touchline for two UEFA competition matches, the second of which is suspended for three years, with the club fined 120,000 euros after the two players seemed to deliberately incur second bookings, therefore wiping out previous cautions ahead of the Champions League knockout stage.
This is a totally ridiculous decision by UEFA. First of all if they are fining Alonso and Ramos for getting deliberate red cards, why are they still letting their bans still stand? So they will both miss the Auxerre game and enter the knockout stages with a clean record. Isn’t that what UEFA just found them guilty of doing?
Also, UEFA suspends Mourinho for the final group game against Auxerre, which is a a meaningless game from Real Madrid’s standpoint. What is the point of that?
UEFA’s statement read:
“Following the opening of disciplinary proceedings concerning the improper conduct of Real Madrid CF coach Jose Mourinho and players Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Jerzy Dudek during the UEFA Champions League Group G game against AFC Ajax in Amsterdam on Tuesday 23 November, the UEFA control and disciplinary body dealt with the case today and decided the following:
- The Spanish club’s coach Jose Mourinho has been suspended from coaching activities for two UEFA club competition matches, of which the second is deferred for a probationary period of three years. He was also fined 40,000 euros.
- Players Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos were fined 20,000 euros, Iker Casillas was fined 10,000 euros and Jerzy Dudek was fined 5,000 euros.
- The red cards given to Alonso and Ramos stand, and they have therefore been suspended for one UEFA club competition match.
- The control and disciplinary body has decided to fine Real Madrid CF 120,000 euros. An appeal may be lodged against the ruling within three days of the dispatch of the reasoning for the decision.”
