Mourinho faces touchline ban as Real are fined heavily and Zabaleta backs City’s in the Europa League
Jose Mourinho is set to face a touchline ban for allegedly ordering two of his players during Real’s 4 goal win over Ajax to get purposefully sent off after gathering two yellow cards in the first half of the match.
His latest match winning antics which were rather callous and smug yet again have caused more than just raised eyebrows and for that matter there are officials, players and managers questioned his behaviour after which UEFA was forced
to make some strong decisions against him but many experts relay that they might not be hard enough.
Real Madrid’s manager has been suspended for 2 UEFA Champions League matches. Real Madrid as a club have also been fined 120,000 Euros due to the “unethical and un-sportsman like behaviour of their players”. Therefore while this to them
will be funds to tie their laces.
Jose Mourinho thus is set to miss Real’s tie against Auxerre, a match that holds no importance for the Spanish giants as they have already sealed their place in the last 16 teams of the competition.
He alone is not the only under the spotlight as his accomplices in the drama; Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos, the two players that got sent off during the match for Real Madrid are fined 20,000 Euros each whereas the goalkeeper Iker Casillas
and his deputy Jerzy Dudek are fined 10,000 Euros and 50,000 Euros respectively. To them this would be like a mere resting period.
The red card suspension for both the players will stand as before, which means that they will miss the match against Auxerre. Milan are the other team who qualified for the round of sixteen from Real Madrid’s group.
UEFA released a statement explaining their verdict on the whole disciplinary situation concerning Real Madrid. The European football’s ruling body said,
"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."
In other news, Paolo Zabaleta has come out and signalled his intent to win the Europa League competition with Manchester City. Zabaleta said, "Can we win this competition? Yes, of course. No matter what some people say, throughout Europe
this competition is seen as prestigious. There are some great teams involved. The Europa League is a great chance to show we are capable of winning titles. We have to believe we have a great chance. It will be a difficult game against Salzburg but we have
a strong possibility of being in the next round and that is our immediate aim."
City are currently battling to secure a UEFA Champions League spot next season. However, Roberto Mancini remarked on the current English title race. He said, "We have a chance as Chelsea and Arsenal have been dropping points. We have great
quality in the team and need to be positive this season. It will be difficult as the season is too long. In every game we have to take a chance of winning three points so we can stay near the top of the table. Tottenham are also doing well but we have to focus
on ourselves. That is best. We have young players and a lot of players with experience in the Premier League. That is a strong mix."
Tags: