Mourinho declares UEFA ban to be ‘a medal’

REAL Madrid coach Jose Mourinho yesterday called a two-match UEFA ban for improper conduct “a medal”, insisting he has been singled out for special treatment by the European governing body.

UEFA banned the Special One this week after allegations that he had engineered deliberate red cards for two of his players during a Champions League match.

“I see this punishment as a medal,” Mourinho said. “My grandmother died a long time ago but I remember what she told me as a child. ‘If they are envious of you, you should be happy,’ and this has happened to me.