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Mourinho handed five match ban by UEFA

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Real Madrid's manager Jose Mourinho kicks the ball during their Champions League semi-final first leg soccer match against Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid April 27, 2011. [Xinhua/Reuters]

The governing body of European football, UEFA, has sanctioned Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho with a five game ban following his sending off in the first game of this season's Champions League semifinal and comments made in the post game press conference.

He has also been given a 50,000 euro fine.

Mourinho was sent off by referee Wolfgang Stark for criticizing?his decision to send midfielder Pepe off in the second half of the game, in which Barca won 2-0 to virtually assure their qualification for the final of the competition.

"Maybe we could have drawn the first game 0-0 and Barca would have won the return leg with merit, but not like this," said Mourinho last week.

"We are out of the final. We will go to Barcelona with our pride and respect for football, but at times it is not nice to live in this world. If we can score the first goal we could leave the tie open, but they will kill us again. It is clear from today that we have no chance," he insisted.

"You can win or draw, but the referee didn't let us. I have won the Champions League twice and I won them on the pitch with Porto and Inter Milan. (Barca coach) Josep Guardiola is a great coach, but he won a Champions League that I would be embarrassed to win, because he won it after the scandal in Stamford Bridge (two years ago) and if he wins this year, he will win after this scandal in the Bernabeu."

"Today I don't know why we have a player sent off. I don't know if it is for UNICEF (who sponsor Barcelona), I don't understand. I congratulate a great team, but also for everything they have behind them because it must be hard to have this power added the Real Madrid coach, virtually accusing UEFA of aiding Barca.

Real Madrid subsequently drew in Barcelona 1-1 on Tuesday night and had a goal from Gonzalo Higuain disallowed for a previous foul from Cristiano Ronaldo on Barca defender Javier Mascherano.

Mourinho watched that game from his hotel room and that game counts as the first of his suspension, although Real Madrid have confirmed they will appeal against the decision to the highest possible levels.

If UEFA maintain their decision it would mean Mourinho would have to watch his side's first four Champions League matches from the stands and he would not give pre-or post match press conferences or be able to communicate with his players until 15 minutes after the final whistle.

Pepe was given a one-match ban for his sending off, which he served last Tuesday, while Barcelona reserve goalkeeper Jose Pinto was handed a three game ban for his part in incidents on the touchline at halftime in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal.

Meanwhile Mourinho renounced giving his pre-match press conference ahead of Real Madrid's game against Sevilla. Real Madrid announced that assistant coach Aitor Karanka would speak to the press on Friday evening.