Manchester United's Phil Jones gets 2-match ban for abusing UEFA official

Manchester United defender Phil Jones will miss the English football club's next two European matches for having insulted an anti-doping official at the May 24 Europa League final, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) said.

The 25-year-old Jones was found guilty of having verbally abused the official after United beat AFC Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm to win the Europe League title, reports Efe.

"CEDB has decided to suspend Manchester United player Philip Jones for two (2) UEFA club competition matches," the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body said in a statement on Monday.

"This means that the player will not be eligible to play at the UEFA Super Cup match on August 8 in Skopje, as well as at the first match of his team in the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League group stage," the statement added.

Jones, who has 21 caps for England, was also fined 5,000 euros ($5,911).

United earlier lost Eric Bailly for the Super Cup clash with Real Madrid, as the Ivorian defender was slapped with a three-match ban for having punched a Celta Vigo player on May 11 during the second leg of the Europa League semifinal.

CEDB also decided on Monday to fine Man United defender Daley Blind 5,000 euros ($5,911) for failing to immediately report for a doping test following the victory over Ajax, but the Dutch player does not face a match ban.

United was fined 10,000 euros ($11,815).

--IANS

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