Real Madrid Launches Appeal to UEFA Against Jose Mourinho Ban

According to ESPN Soccernet, Real Madrid is appealing the five-match ban by UEFA against its manager Jose Mourinho. The ban against Mourinho was for his comments against FC Barcelona during a press conference after Real Madrid was defeated in the UEFA Champions League.

Jose Mourinho was also punished by receiving an order from UEFA to pay a $72,000 fine.

The comments made by Mourinho were in reference to a possible collusion between FC Barcelona and the referees, which led to the ban in the first place. Mourinho made these comments after being sent off by referees after his response to Pepe receiving a red card.

UEFA will later determine the date of the hearing of the appeal. Jose Mourinho has already started to serve his ban by missing one match.

I do not know of any examples of UEFA reducing or making changes to their original sentences against players. I think that UEFA should continue with its punishment unless Mourinho issues a public apology for his comments against FC Barcelona.

Regardless, I do not have any simple answers, especially when certain players such as Gerard Pique of FC Barcelona make declarations that do not help the equation. Pique declared that Real Madrid should "talk less and play more" in a recent press conference.

I hope that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona could return to a rivalry that is not laced with the mutual insults for the sake of La Liga.