UEFA Fines Manchester United For Ant-Doping Rules Breaches After Europa Win

Manchester United have been charged with violating UEFA’s anti-doping rules in their Europa League final victory over Ajax in May and fined 10,000 euros ($11,844), European soccer’s governing body announced on Monday.

Manchester United UEFA anti-doping fines

The Red Devils won the final 2-0 in Stockholm, Sweden on May 24 and in doing so qualified for the Champions League.

Two of United’s players — defenders Phil Jones and Daley Blind — were fined 5,000 euros ($5,922) each for two distinct reasons: Jones was charged with “insulting and directing abusive language towards a doping control officer” and suspended for two games, while Blind was charged with “noncompliance with the doping procedure.”

Jones reportedly became upset with an official after the latter refused to let the defender pose for a team photo United took to honor the victims of the Manchester terrorist bombing at an Ariana Grande concert that left 22 people dead two days before the Europa League final.

The defender was an unused substitute for the final, while Blind played the entire game. Jones will miss the Super Cup match against Real Madrid on Aug. 8 and the opening Champions League game.

UEFA stated the incidents violated the rule dictating that teams are responsible for ensuring players selected to undergo doping controls are transported to the control station straight from the field as soon as the game ends.

United have three days to appeal against the decision, although Jose Mourinho’s team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

BBC reported that Jones and Blind were each fined  £4,450 ($5,880), while United were fined £8,900 ($11,762).

The Red Devils signed Chelsea defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic on Monday for £40 million ($52 million). The 28-year-old Serbian star had been at Stamford Bridge since 2014, and his new three-year deal at Old Trafford includes a one-year option.

Matic is United’s third summer signing after 24-year-old Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku, who joined for a franchise-record £75 million ($99 million) from Everton on July 10 and 23-year-old Swedish defender Victor Lindelof, who joined from Benfica for £31 million ($41 million).

SWANSEA, WALES – NOVEMBER 06: : Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Phil Jones (l) during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Manchester United at Liberty Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena

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