Uefa hands Real Madrid coach Mourinho five-match ban

Jose Mourinho is sent to the stands during the first leg
Mourinho was sent to the stands during the first leg of Madrid's semi-final defeat

Jose Mourinho has been given a five-match European ban for his conduct after Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final first-leg against Barcelona.

Uefa said it was "inappropriate" for the Madrid coach to accuse them - and referees - of trying to help Barcelona win, following Real's 2-0 home defeat.

Mourinho served one match of the ban in the second leg, and another of the five games is suspended for three years.

Madrid have announced they will appeal against Mourinho's punishment.

"Real Madrid considers this resolution still suffers from the same defects found at the start of the disciplinary case, which made it impossible for our coach to use his right to defend himself," read a statement on the club's websiteexternal-link.

They claim that the exact statements for which the disciplinary case was opened are "still unknown".

European football's governing body also banned Barcelona keeper Jose Manuel Pinto from the Champions League final, while Real's Pepe - who was sent off in the match - has been handed a one-match ban.

However, Barcelona said they will appeal against the three-match suspension given to Pinto, who was sent off in the first-leg match in Madrid.

The 35-year-old has already served a one-match ban for the semi-final return leg at the Camp Nou, but as it stands will miss the final on 28 May at Wembley and the next Uefa club competition match which he is eligible to play.

Former Chelsea manager Mourinho - who has also been fined 50,000 euros by Uefa's control and disciplinary panel - will miss Madrid's first three European games next season for his sending-off, and the outspoken comments that followed, after the club's first-leg loss.

Mourinho was dismissed to the stands for his protests over Pepe's sending-off for a studs-up challenge and, after the match, he belittled the achievements of counterpart Pep Guardiola, suggesting there was a conspiracy among referees to favour the Catalans.

"It's clear that against Barcelona you have no chance," he said.

"I don't understand why. I don't know if it's the publicity of Unicef [the charity who provides the club's shirt sponsor].

"I don't know if it's the friendship of Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar at Uefa, where he is vice-president. I don't know if it's because they are very nice, but they've got this power.

"The rest of us have no chance."

The man who led Inter Milan to Champions League glory last season was absent from Barcelona's Camp Nou when Madrid were eliminated, with his place on the touchline taken by assistant Aitor Karanka.

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon told BBC Radio 5 live that he felt the club has been damaged by Mourinho's behaviour.

The Portuguese coach has a long disciplinary history with Uefa.

He was banned from the touchline for two matches in 2005 for alleging that then-Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard had influenced referee Anders Frisk.

Earlier this season he was banned for one match after appearing to instruct Real players Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos to be deliberately sent off.