By Xinhua
Lisbon : Portugal’s national football coach Luiz Felipe Scolari vowed to appeal the punishment imposed by Europe’s governing body UEFA after his clash with Serbian player Ivica Dragutinovic in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
“I believe the sanction is excessive. The athlete that originated all this situation was punished for two games. That is why I am going to appeal this decision,” Scolari told a press conference Thursday afternoon after his punishment – a four-month suspension and 12,000 euros fine – was made public.
Scolari addressed the media after meeting Portugal’s football federation president Gilberto Madail, who also felt the punishment “an excessive sanction for the national team”.
After the two-hour meeting with Scolari, Madail said he has called an emergency meeting Monday to decide what to do. Scolari assured he does not intend to resign from his post after last week’s incident.