UEFA reduce players' ban

Several Valencia and Inter Milan players have had their punishments for their roles in the brawl which marred the end of their Champions League last 16 tie reduced on appeal by UEFA.

David Navarro’s seven-month ban has been reduced to six by UEFA although he could get an extra two months in the event of more misbehaviour.

His Valencia team-mate Carlos Marchena has had a four-game suspension trimmed to two matches.

Inter player Maicon has had his six-match ban reduced to three matches with three deferred, while Ivan Cordoba’s three-game suspension has been reduced to two.

However, Nicolas Burdisso has had his six-game ban maintained while Julio Cruz’s two-match suspension is also upheld.

Inter president Massimo Moratti told club website www.inter.it: “There has been an improvement on the initial blow, but it’s useless to make any comment.

“It is now up to us and the players to be very careful so we don’t end up being penalised by the suspended sentences.

“You’re never satisfied with these kind of things, because you always hope for a little bit more. Basically, there was a sentence that is pointless to argue about. But I think that in this way there will be other players who can play.”

The brawl at the Mestalla stadium earlier this month followed Inter’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of the Spanish club.