Football: ‘Mourinho’s ban excessive’

Uefa handed the Portuguese a five match ban for his verbal outburst following Champions League semi-final defeat.

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho’s five-match touchline ban in European competition is over the top, said the club’s Director General Jorge Valdano.

Uefa punished the Portuguese for his verbal outburst following Madrid’s Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat to archrivals.

“It’s excessive,” said Valdano. “There have been many coaches who have made very hard comments and the punishments were smaller.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2011.