Manchester United defender Phil Jones has expressed his outrage at receiving a two game ban for “insulting and abusive language towards the doping control officer” following his side’s 2-0 triumph over Ajax in the Europa League final.
The Englishman, despite having not played in the game, was called away by UEFA doping officials for tests as United were celebrating in the dressing room. They were about to pose with a banner commemorating the victims of the Manchester attack in May and Jones, quite understandably, was not best pleased at being told he couldn’t take part.
He was fined €5,000 and banned for the UEFA Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid and the upcoming Champions League opener against FC Basel later this month. UEFA also cited a “lack of cooperation and respect” – a glaring example of bureaucratic organisations having absolutely no idea of context or common sense. United had just won a European trophy, after all. Daley Blind was also fined €5,000 for breaching doping protocol in the aftermath.
And Jones, speaking ahead of England’s World Cup qualifier with Malta, didn’t hesitate in expressing his incredulity at the entire situation.
“To be honest, I couldn’t believe it,” he said.
“It’s slightly harsh. You see players go in for leg-breaking challenges and they get a one-game ban or a two-game ban. I could understand if I didn’t comply with the rules, but I did.”
“It’s not as if we had just won the Mickey Mouse League. We had won the Europa League. I’m sure anyone can understand, you work so hard all year round to win a prestige competition like that and someone says you can’t celebrate with your team…
“We had planned to do the banner for the Manchester attack (the suicide attack in May that claimed 22 lives). It is quite close, considering we are a Manchester team based in Manchester, but it wasn’t to be. Maybe there was language that was inappropriate, but it definitely wasn’t directed to the official himself.”
“I definitely didn’t look at him in his eye and say that he was this and that. Looking back on it now, did I deserve a fine? Possibly. But a two-game ban is a bit out of the ordinary.”
