UEFA ban raises doubts in Madrid about Mourinho

By Duncan Shaw May 7, 2011, 8:44 GMT

Madrid - Several sections of the Spanish media and many fans of Real Madrid are beginning to have doubts about Jose Mourinho, after UEFA hit the Portuguese coach with a five-match touchline ban on Friday.

The ever controversial, always outspoken Mourinho was banned for five European matches for his astonishing outburst against UEFA - accusing them of giving preferential treatment to Barcelona - after his team's first leg semi-final defeat at home to Barca on April 27.

The suspension includes a one-match ban following Mourinho's dismissal from the touchline, which was served for the return leg in Barcelona on Tuesday - a 1-1 draw which put Real out on a 3-1 aggregate.

Mourinho had to watch the game from a hotel room because of concerns that he might be attacked by the Barca fans if he were up in the stands.

The fifth match of the ban has been suspended for three years. Mourinho has also been fined 50,000 euros (72,460 dollars) by UEFA.

It is the third time in his stormy career that the self-styled 'Special One' has been banned by UEFA for his behaviour and comments.

Real Madrid immediately announced they would appeal. However, online polls published on Saturday showed that many fans were not sure that Mourinho had actually been dealt with unjustly by UEFA.

57 per cent of readers of sports daily AS considered the ban to be 'unjust', but another poll showed that 54 per cent of readers of Marca believed the punishment to be 'fair.'

Mourinho himself has so far not commented on the ban. On Friday assistant coach Aitor Karanaka stood in for the Portuguese coach at the daily press conference and said: 'He does not want to talk for now but he is going to fight for justice all the way.'

On Saturday AS and Marca both raised doubts about the wisdom of appealing the ban - and questioned whether Mourinho's behaviour was starting to damage Real's image.

Alfredo Relano, editor of AS, said on Saturday: 'The tension that this man (Mourinho) creates is excessive. He is always in the eye of the storm. He has made many enemies. It is true that he won the cup (1-0 against Barcelona on April 20) but at what cost?

The questions is whether anyone at the club can moderate this man. A club also lives through its image. Now Real is seen as the 'hooligan' of the neighbourhood. Maybe the cup win is compensation for some fans, but I think that never has a victory had such a high price.'

Radio Marca, for its part, suggested on Saturday that Real president Florentino Perez talk with Mourinho, 'in order to get him to moderate his language and his manners.'

Cadena SER, meanwhile, commented on Saturday that 'Mourinho has certainly not made many friends for Real Madrid' and predicted that appealing against the UEFA ban 'will only make things worse.'

Ramon Calderon, president of Real from 2006 to 2009, said on Wednesday that Mourinho was 'damaging the image of Real Madrid across the world', not only with his statements but also with his team's defend-in-depth-and-break style of play.

Former Barca captain and coach Johan Cruyff, for his part, commented on Thursday that 'Real will continue to be behind Barcelona until they change their way of playing.'

Mourinho is the world's most expensive coach, earning around eight million euros per season on a lucrative four-year deal. He was given the mission by Perez of ending Barcelona's domestic and European domination.

Just three months into his contract, in September 2010, he infuriated Barcelona by claiming that they received special treatment from the Spanish federation and referees, and that other teams did not try hard enough to beat them.

Many 'madridista' fans are pleased that Mourinho has given the club their first trophy since 2008.

However, many others are disappointed that his team has taken less points in La Liga than last season - Barca are eight points ahead and poised to clinch their third straight title - and have failed to prevent Barca from reaching their third Champions Cup final within five years.

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