NYON, Switzerland (AP)—Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho appeared before UEFA’s appeal panel Friday to challenge his five-match ban from Champions League matches, then left before the verdict.
Mourinho emerged from UEFA headquarters with a team of club lawyers after a six-hour hearing. A ruling is expected later Friday.
The Portuguese coach appeared sullen and did not respond to questions. He previously said he was due at a team training session in Madrid later in the afternoon.
Mourinho accused UEFA and its referees of a long-standing conspiracy to help rival Barcelona after his team lost 2-0 in a semifinal first-leg match in April. He was also sent from the dugout during the game.
UEFA’s disciplinary body ruled that Mourinho made “inappropriate” comments and fined him $71,000.
Mourinho is currently banned from entering the dugout and changing rooms, or communicating with players and coaches, at Madrid’s next three group-stage matches.
He was banned for the return leg in Barcelona and another match of his ban was suspended for three years.
Under UEFA rules, Mourinho can later appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if his final sanction is at least three matches.
Mourinho’s rant at the European soccer authority and its referees came after his team was outplayed by Barcelona at its home Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on April 27.
He was attempting to become the first coach to lead three different clubs to European titles in the competition’s 56-year history.
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