POCH: MY SHOCK AT UNFAIR BAN
Spurs boss slams FA over two-game suspension
TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino learned of his touchline ban as he prepared for his side’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund and was so upset and bewildered he forgot to change into his shirt and tie.
Pochettino intended to smarten up for the big match in Dortmund but was stunned when told of his FA punishment.
He said: ‘I was in shock. It was before the game and you can appreciate I was so sad because I didn’t change and I was still in my tracksuit on the touchline.
‘It’s like my mind was gone because you feel so bad, and because when you make a mistake you deserve to be banned but this was not proportionate, , it was exaggerated.’
Pochettino cleared his head to lead Tottenhamam to the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win in Germany, making a key tactical switch in the first half when Dortmund were on top. But his emotions were still simmering yesterday when he spoke for the first time about the punishment.
He claimed a two-match ban and a £10,000 fine — for his two confrontations with referee Mike Dean after the 2-1 defeat at Burnley two weeks ago — is excessive for someone with a long record of respect towards the officials.
‘It is completely unfair,’ said Pochettino. ‘ It is my seventh season in England and you can see my behaviour from day one.
‘I am a manager who always wanted to help the Premier League and the FA and who tried to behave at my best to help the referees and try to improve our game. It is my first time here that I’m mamaybe not completely riright in my behaviour bbut I feel this is too mmuch. I feel a little bit sad and disappointed wwith the punishment.’ Pochettino intends tto read the written rereasons for his ban — nonot yet received — before he dedecides whether to contest testcontest it.it AAs it stands, he will be suspended for games at Southampton tomorrow and Liverpool on March 31, although he can address the players in the dressing room and communicate with coaching staff on the bench. If he decides to appeal he may be on the touchline at St Mary’s but if the process is delayed and the punishment upheld he could find himself in the stands for the first game at Tottenham’s new 62,000-seat stadium. The club are inching towards their return to White Hart Lane with Haringey Council giving notice of traffic restrictions for test events from tomorrow week. Two sub-capacity games are being lined up and one could be an Under 18 fixture against Southampton, which must be re-arranged after today’s game was postponed.