Manchester United have told Uefa that they will appeal the two-match ban handed down to Phil Jones for swearing at a doping control officer after their Europa League final win over Ajax.
Earlier this week, Uefa banned Jones for Tuesday’s European Super Cup meeting with Real Madrid and United’s first Champions League group game after it found the England defender guilty of using “abusive language” towards an official who told him he had to go straight to doping control after the victory in Stockholm in May.
“I think it’s very hard to control a player in this situation and Uefa should take that into considerationJosé Mourinho
José Mourinho, the United manager, last night labelled the suspension “unfair” as Jones had only reacted angrily towards the official because he wanted to take part in a team photo in the dressing room to honour the victims of the Manchester bombing, which happened 48 hours before the final, rather than give blood and urine samples straight after the match.
The Times revealed on Monday that United were expected to appeal the decision and it is understood that the club have formally notified Uefa of their intention to contest the charge over the last 24 hours.
United now have to submit a list of written reasons by Monday arguing why Jones should not be banned. The club are expected to argue that the circumstances surrounding the case should be taken into account. Uefa went to extensive lengths to honour the victims of the attack, pulling a fireworks display and holding a minute’s silence before kick-off and Jones, United believe, was only trying to do his bit to join in the commemorations too by wanting to pose with his team-mates in front of a banner that read “Manchester – a city united” in the dressing room straight after he had left the pitch.
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In appealing the decision, United run the risk of having Jones’ ban extended. He could be banned for at least another match, which would further anger Mourinho. The United manger is already without Eric Bailly, who is suspended for the Super Cup and United’s first Champions League game because of his dismissal in the Europa League semi-final second leg against Celta Vigo.
Mourinho described Uefa’s decision to extend Bailly’s ban from one match to three for raising his hand to John Guidetti’s face in May as “very, very harsh”.
And the former Chelsea manager once again hit out at European football’s governing body for imposing a two-game ban on Jones following last night’s 2-1 win over Sampdoria in Dublin.
“Put yourself in his [Jones’] position, he wins a European cup, he wants to celebrate with his team, he wants to get the cup, the medal, he wants to be in the pictures, and the doctor wants to close him in a small room because of the doping control,” Mourinho said.
“I think it’s very hard to control a player in this situation and Uefa should take that into consideration.
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“It’s not a normal match, it’s a final and I think it would be easier for the doping control committee to have someone at the pitch with him to see there is nothing wrong with him, just a human desire to celebrate so I think they should take that into consideration.”
When asked whether United would appeal, Mourinho added: “I would, if I was him I would, because I think it’s quite unfair but when you do that you have the risk of more punishment. I don’t know. It’s a decision I leave with him.”
