Barcelona keeper banned two matches for conning opposition

• omgukilledkenny

  30 Oct 10, 00:54

  Pinto nets two-match ban

  

  Barcelona's reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto has been banned for two Champions League matches for 'conning' an opposition player.

  The incident occurred during Barca's Champions League clash with FC Copenhagen at the Nou Camp on October 20, as Pinto replaced first-choice keeper Victor Valdes on the day of the game after the Spain international custodian was ruled out through illness.

  
  

  Copenhagen's Brazilian striker Cesar Santin had a chance to be through on goal, one-on-one with the keeper, but gave up the chase after Pinto motioned to him that the assistant had waved his flag for off-side.

  Santin was not off-side and, after he had cleared the ball, Pinto could clearly be seen grinning towards his team-mates.

  The Danish outfit were not happy with his behaviour, prompting them to make a formal complaint to European football's governing body.

  Uefa agreed that the incident was worthy of a punishment and handed Pinto a two-match ban on Friday.

  The Catalan giants have hinted that they might appeal against the ban but will have Valdes back for their next European clash anyway.

   

  setanta.