UEFA to investigate Real red cards
Reuters - Thursday 25 November 2010, 21:17
ZURICH - UEFA have opened an investigation
into allegations that two Real Madrid players deliberately got
sent off in Tuesday's Champions League match against Ajax
Amsterdam, the European governing body said on Thursday.
UEFA said defender Sergio Ramos and midfielder Xabi Alonso
would be investigated for possible "improper conduct" along with
coach Jose Mourinho and keepers Iker Casillas and Jerzy Dudek.
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Real later issued a statement on their website
saying: "Real Madrid expresses its surprise
at this decision on the understanding that it does not conform
with UEFA's disciplinary rules".
Spain internationals Ramos and Alonso were dismissed late in
Tuesday's 4-0 away win in the Dutch capital after picking up
second yellow cards for time-wasting.
The sendings-off meant they would serve automatic one-match
suspensions in the final group game against Auxerre, which is a
dead match for Real with the Spanish club already assured of
first place in Group G and qualification for the last 16.
Both players had accumulated two yellow cards in the group
stage before they were sent off and a further yellow card in a
subsequent game would have meant a one-match suspension during
the knockout stage.
A UEFA spokesman said they would now start the knockout
stage with one yellow card each against their names as the cards
picked up before the Ajax game would still stand.
Spanish media reports said the players were acting on
instructions from Mourinho. They said the message was passed by
reserve goalkeeper Dudek during a conversation with first choice
keeper Casillas.
Spanish television has repeatedly replayed a moment during
the match when the pair were seen talking with their hands over
the mouths. Mourinho was also filmed with his hand over his
mouth.
"There's no need to keep talking about this," Ramos told
Real's website. "It's something which has
been forgotten.
"It's time to turn over the page and think about the Clasico
(match against Barcelona on Monday). I don't fear any sanction
because I don't believe that I've done anything illegal."
Two years ago, UEFA fined Olympique Lyon players Cris and
Juninho 15,000 euros and 10,000 euros respectively for getting deliberately booked during a Champions
League match against Fiorentina.
UEFA's disciplinary panel decided that the pair had
committed deliberate fouls in order to serve a one-match
suspension during their team's meaningless final group stage
match against Bayern Munich.