Soccer:Bayern Munich have confirmed their intention to appeal against the three-match ban handed to Franck Ribery which is set to rule the Frenchman out of next month's Champions League final.
Uefa hit the midfielder with the suspension today following a meeting of the organisation’s control and disciplinary body.
Bayern will be without Ribery for the final against either Inter Milan or Barcelona in Madrid on May 22nd following his straight red card for a bad challenge on Lyon’s Lisandro Lopez during his side’s 1-0 win at the Allianz Arena last week.
Ribery has already served an automatic one-match suspension which forced him to miss his side’s 3-0 win in the return leg of the semi-final at Stade Gerland last night.
Bayern had hoped Uefa would show leniency and cap Ribery’s ban at one game, but their appeal fell on deaf ears with the governing body taking a hardline stance.
Uefa confirmed Bayern have the right to appeal the decision within three days of receiving official notification of the ban, and the Bundesliga club wasted little time taking up the option.
“Uefa informed us of the decision, arguing that Franck Ribery was guilty (of serious foul play). We do not understand this decision in any way and consider it absolutely wrong,” read a Bayern statement.
“Franck Ribery can certainly not be accused of violating his opponent intentionally. The player Lisandro Lopez was able to continue the game. Bayern and Franck Ribery will not accept the decision, but appeal and exhaust all possibilities.”