Madrid launch appeal for José

REAL MADRID have lodged an appeal with UEFA against the five-match touchline ban imposed on their coach Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho’s punishment relates to the ill-tempered Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona at the Bernabeu, when he was sent to the stands and launched into a tirade against Barca 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 and a statement on the UEFA website yesterday read: “Real Madrid have appealed against the disciplinary verdict handed down to Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.

“The appeal follows the sending by UEFA of the reasoned decision on June 6. 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 conspiracy in favour of Real’s great 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 shirt sponsor), I don’t know if it’s the friendship of (Spanish football federation president Angel Maria) 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 Bernabeu.

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