With the new footballing season just around the corner, UEFA on Friday handed Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and his assistant Marcus Sorg a one match ban in UEFA club competitions for misconduct. They have also been fined 20,000 euros ($23,320) each, UEFA’s disciplinary committee revealed.
In the last edition of the UCL, Flick was irate with various refereeing decisions in Barcelona’s 4-3 semifinal second leg loss to Inter Milan. “I don’t want to talk about the referee but each decision that was 50-50 went for them. We have to accept that,” Flick had said after the match. He, however, had wished Inter well in the final which the Italian side lost to Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in a 5-0 thrashing.
“I wish Inter well in Munich, they did a great job and are a great team. They defend really well and they work together and have good strikers,” he had said.
The sanctions will take immediate effect, ruling both men out of the dugout for the start of this season’s Champions League. In a separate decision, UEFA fined Barcelona forwards Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski 5,000 euros each for failing to comply with instructions from an anti-doping officer and not immediately reporting to a control post at the same game.
Barcelona were also fined 5,250 euros over fans throwing objects and 2,500 euros for lighting fireworks during the match. Inter were fined 22,000 euros for their supporters’ blocking public passageways and another 11,500 euros for lighting fireworks.
Meanwhile, Lewandowski will miss Barcelona’s friendly match on Sunday because of a hamstring problem, the Catalan club said Friday.
Barcelona will host Italian club Como in the traditional curtain-raising Joan Gamper Trophy game before its La Liga campaign starts Aug. 16 against Mallorca.
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“The striker is unavailable for Sunday’s game and his recovery will determine his return,” the team said in a statement.
Lewandowski scored 42 goals total in 52 appearances last season to help Barcelona win the La Liga title. His 27 league goals was second only to Kylian Mbappe’s 31. The 36-year-old Poland international is beginning his fourth season at Barcelona.
(With agency inputs)
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