United star is banned over his reaction to missing bomb tribute
CLUB ‘FURIOUS’ AS PLAYER IS PUNISHED BY UEFA FOR RESPONSE TO DRUG TEST OFFICIALS AFTER CUP FINAL
UNITED star Phil Jones has been hit with a two-match ban after trying to temporarily delay a random drugs test so he could pose with team-mates to pay tribute to those killed in the Manchester bomb.
Club bosses are said to be furious after the Old Trafford defender was banned and team-mate Daley Blind fined by Uefa.
The squad posed for a picture paying homage to those killed and injured after United had beaten Ajax in the Europa League final on May 24 - just two days after the attack at the Manchester Arena.
However Jones and Blind were selected to take part in random drugs testing.
England international Jones was not allowed to delay his random test - even under supervision - to take part.
He strongly expressed his anger to officials at the time, and Uefa have now suspended him, accusing the 25-yearold of verbally abusing one of their anti-doping officers.
Dutch international Blind did feature on that photograph and did join in some of the celebrations, accompanied by a chaperone from the drugs testing team. This is permitted in other competitions, but was not the case in the Europa League. It is understood he did not realise he had done anything wrong until reaching doping control.
Jones gave blood and urine samples but showed his frustration to officials. There is no suggestion that either player was guilty of doping.
However, both have been found guilty of breaching the governing body’s doping regulations.
United chiefs have not commented on the matter and no decisions have yet been taken on whether appeals will be made against any of the decisions.
The squad had posed with a banner reading ‘Manchester – a city united’ in honour of those killed at the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena.
United have been fined 10,000 euros over the rule breaches. The club are understood to be aware of Uefa’s decisions, and have three days to appeal against them.
Preston-born Jones, who was an unused substitute in the game, will miss the Super Cup final against Real Madrid next week and United’s opening Champions League game.