FA appeals bans for Caulker and Ince

Jan 8, 2013 9:00:00 PM

English football's governing body has elected to appeal against suspensions handed to the duo, who were punished following the controversial clash with Serbia in October

The Football Association are to appeal bans handed to England Under-21 players Tom Ince and Steven Caulker.

Tottenham defender Caulker was banned for two games, while Blackpool winger Ince was given a one game suspension for their part in stormy scenes at the end of England's Euro 2013 qualifier in Serbia.

However, these suspensions could yet be rescinded if the FA are successful in their appeal against the decision to ban the duo.

Three Lions' defender Danny Rose was sent-off at the conclusion of the contest, after he kicked the ball away in frustration at being subjected to racial abuse from the Serbian crowd for much of the contest in Krusevac.

The Serbian FA have been fined £65,000, while their Under-21 side was ordered to play their next match behind closed doors as a result of the "improper conduct" of their supporters.

A number of Serbian officials also received sanctions following the unsavoury end to the contest, with fitness coach Andreja Milunovic and assistant coach Predrag Katic both banned for two years, while four players (Goran Causic, Ognjen Mudrinski, Filip Malbasic and Nikola Ninkovic) were all handed suspensions.

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German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

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Right, still plenty of time to go until kick-off, so why not get involved in our Champions League quiz on Twitter? Here's one to start you off:

After tonight, how many Champions League/European Cup finals will Bayern Munich have played in?

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Bayern, as already alluded to, are desperate to atone for defeat against Chelsea 12 months ago and one man who knows all about the agony and ecstasy of Champions League finals is former die Roten defender Samuel Kuffour. The Ghanaian beating the ground in fury after seeing his side concede twice in injury time at the end of the 1999 tournament decider against Manchester United remains one of the most memorable images in the competition’s history, so check out our exclusive interview with Kuffour, who would achieve redemption just two years later when Bayern edged out Valencia on penalties.

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However, who doesn't feel anything by admiration for Jupp Heynckes? The Bayern coach learned earlier this year that he would be replaced by former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola earlier this summer but did he let it affect him? Not a bit, with Heynckes now on the verge of a historic treble. Worth noting, too, that Heynckes, who led Madrid to the title in 1998 before being replaced by Fabio Capello, has never failed to reach the final of any Champions League in which he has taken part.

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Klopp, of course, is the new darling of the football media. It’s pretty damn impossible not to love a man who speaks so passionately - and amusingly - about the game. This week alone he admitted that so distraught was he by the news of Gotze’s imminent departure for Bayern, whom he views as the villain in a James Bond movie, that he had to cancel plans with his wife to attend a movie premiere because he didn’t want to have to talk to anyone. Seriously, how could any real football fan not be a 'Klopptomist'?!

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We’re still awaiting the confirmed line-ups but if you’re looking for the likely starting 11s, let me point you in the direction of our match preview. Also, if you want an excellent and entertaining analysis of tonight’s fascinating final, well, how does a James Richardson-hosted debate involving Jonathan Wilson and Paulo Sousa tickle your fancy? The prince of puns, a true titan of tactical thinking and a two-time Champions League winner - a veritable dream team, I think you'll agree.

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