Binya hit with six-match Uefa ban

Updated 10.05 Fri Nov 16 2007

Keywords: Benfica, Champions League, Scott Brown, SPL, Celtic, football, sport

Uefa has hit Benfica midfielder Augustin Binya with a six-match European ban for his high challenge on Celtic's Scott Brown.

Swedish referee Martin Hansson showed Binya a straight red card for the shocking tackle five minutes from the end of the Glasgow giants' 1-0 home Group D Champions League win on November 6.

"(It's) shocking. I don't think the guy should ever have done that. He obviously tried to do me as hard as possible" - Scott Brown

European football's governing body's website said: "Binya's challenge seriously endangered the physical health of the opposing player.

"He will miss Benfica's next Uefa Champions League matches away to AC Milan on 28 November and at home to Shakhtar Donetsk on 4 December.

"The remaining four-match suspension applies to any future games in Uefa club competition.

"An appeal may be lodged against this decision within three days of the dispatch of the reasoned decision.

Bhoys midfielder Brown said after the game that he thought Binya was trying to break his leg.

Having seen TV replays of the incident, he said in his post-match interview: "(It's) shocking. I don't think the guy should ever have done that. He obviously tried to do me as hard as possible."