Mijailovic banned for racial abuse

Uefa has banned Wisla Krakow defender Nikola Mijailovic for five matches after he racially abused Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy.

The decision comes after an investigation sparked by claims by McCarthy and Blackburn.

The incident involving the South Africa forward occurred in last week's Uefa Cup group stage game in Poland, which Blackburn won 2-1.

Mijailovic had denied any wrongdoing and claimed that McCarthy instigated the dispute.

"Almost in the first minute he hit me very badly, it was a really inappropriate move for a football player," Mijailovic told Serbian newspaper Kurir. "When I hit back, he started to bawl, to insult me, he even started to stick his tongue out at me.

Mijailovic's verdict contrasted with the version of events put forward by the Premiership team, whose manager, Mark Hughes said: "There is no place for abuse like this in sport or in life. There is banter and sledging, but this was a lot stronger than that."

However Mijailovic added at the time: "When a black player hits or swears at a white opponent, it's nothing. But when you hit back in the same way, then you are called a racist. Why didn't he act like a real man and say what kind of things he said to me? I really can't understand this guy."