29 Apr 2010

Bayern's Ribery banned for Champions League final

6:17 am on 29 April 2010

Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery will miss next month's Champions League final after European football's governing body banned him for three matches for assault.

Shortly after the announcement, Bayern said they would appeal UEFA's decision.

The Frenchman was sent off for treading on the foot of the Lyon striker Lisandro Lopez in the first-leg semi-final last week when Bayern won 1-0 in Munich and missed yesterday's 3-0 second-leg win.

The decision means Ribery will miss the final in Madrid on May 22, against either Barcelona or Inter Milan and is a blow to Bayern\'s bid to win the Champions League for the fifth time.

It has been a difficult few weeks for Ribery, who was questioned by French police recently as part of their investigations into the under-age call-girl scandal that's rocked France's national team.