Krakow defender banned for McCarthy abuse
Benni McCarthy's racist abuse claims have been vindicated
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Thursday, 26, Oct 2006 10:00
Wisla Krakow's Nikola Mijailovic has been hit with a five-match ban for the racist abuse he aimed at Blackburn Rovers forward Benni McCarthy during their teams' Uefa Cup match.
The Premiership side's 2-1 away win was overshadowed by a bad-tempered confrontation between the pair at the final whistle and subsequent allegations from Rovers manger Mark Hughes that the South African was the victim of racial taunts.
Referee Stefan Johannesson's and the English FA both supported Blackburn's complaints to the game's European governing body.
"Firstly, we appreciate Uefa's speed in dealing with this important issue," said a Blackburn statement.
"Secondly, we believe that Uefa's decision sends out a clear message that racism will not, and should not, be tolerated in the game."
Mijailovic has protested his innocence of the charges and now has until Monday to lodge an appeal against the punishment.
The incident came just a week after England's under-21 team had complained of suffering similar abuse after their 2-0 win over their German counterparts in Leverkusen.
After the game the German FA promised a full investigation into the claims of defenders Micah Richards and Anton Ferdinand.