Football: Barcelona appeal Iniesta ban

MADRID: Barcelona have appealed a Uefa proposal to suspend Andres Iniesta from the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid for allegedly picking up a yellow card on purpose during the match against Shakhtar Donetsk meaning he missed the return-leg.

The club announced that they have appealed against the proposal. “FC Barcelona have submitted an appeal to Uefa against the proposed imposition of an additional game suspension for Andres Iniesta,” said the club. “We believe that the arguments outlined in their appeal, based on the good faith of the player and the disproportionate nature of the proposed sanction will be sufficient to rebut these allegations.”



Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2011.