Five-Match Zidane Ban Upheld By Uefa
Friday 3rd November 2000
Uefa rejected Juventus star Zinedine Zidane's appeal on Friday against a five-match ban imposed for head-butting Hamburg defender Jochen Kientz in the Champions' League.
The governing body suspended France playmaker Zidane last week after he was sent off for the second European match running during a 3-1 home defeat by the Germans.
At an appeal hearing, Zidane "confirmed that his unjustifiable retaliation after a foul was due to frustration at being played out of the match by unsporting methods, but admitted that his action was not in keeping with his role-model status".
Uefa's appeals body, "after thoroughly examining all the evidence, concluded that there could be no doubt that the player committed a serious act of assault" and upheld the five-match ban.
It also rejected an appeal by Juventus against a fine of 25,000 Swiss francs (�9,700) imposed for "the improper conduct of its team and supporters".
Zidane also saw red during the 0-0 draw with Deportivo La Coruna of Spain on October 18 and received a two-match ban which was then reduced to one.
