Phil Jones has denied directing foul and abusive language at a doping control officer after the Europa League final last season and said the two-game ban imposed by Uefa was harsh, although he opted not to appeal.
The Manchester United defender, an unused substitute in the final against Ajax in May, and Daley Blind had been selected to undergo post-match drug tests in Stockholm, with Jones infuriated at missing a dressing-room squad photograph being taken to pay tribute to those affected by the Manchester terror attack that had taken place two days earlier. Jones was banned for two European matches – the first of which he served in the Uefa Super Cup against Real Madrid in August – and fined £4,600.
Although Jones admitted using abusive language and apologised for swearing, he denies directly abusing the official.
“Anyone can understand that, in a situation like that, maybe there was language that was inappropriate, but it definitely wasn’t direct to the official himself,” said the defender, who has been one of United’s most impressive performers this season. “I definitely didn’t look him in his eye and say that he was a this and that. Looking back on it now, did I deserve a fine? Possibly. But a two-game ban is a bit out of the ordinary.”
Jones and Blind had been made aware by the team doctor they had been selected for doping control after around 75 minutes of the final. “That was not a problem, fine by me, I’ve done it many times before,” he said. “I went into the doping control room straight after the game and wasn’t allowed into the changing room, which is fine as well. Usually you go in [to the doping control room], you sign, you get your chaperone so they can see what you’re doing, then you can go back into the changing room, get your mobile phone and whatever, get a drink, come back in, but that wasn’t the case.
“It’s not as if we had just won the Mickey Mouse league. We had won the Europa League. I’m sure anyone can understand you work so hard all year round to win a prestige competition like that, [and then] someone says you can’t celebrate with your team. We had planned to do the banner for the Manchester attacks. It is quite close to us considering we are a Manchester team but it wasn’t to be. I fully complied with rules and did my urine sample, did my blood sample, and ended up with a two-game ban. I could understand that if I hadn’t complied with the rules, but I did. It’s slightly harsh. You see players go in for leg-breaking challenges and they get a one- or a two-game ban.”
José Mourinho shared the player’s dismay at the extent of the sanction but the United manager left it to Jones to decide whether to appeal in the knowledge Uefa could impose a harsher penalty. Jones had hoped to delay the sanction so he could play against Real but landed with the United team in Skopje to discover “Uefa had sent an email saying it was a no-go”. He will complete his ban in the club’s opening Champions League group game, which is against Basel at Old Trafford on 12 September.
“I 100% understand the significance of the job [performed by the anti-doping control officers] and I fully complied with the rules,”Jones said. “I did my urine and my blood, I was in and out in 30 minutes … They asked if I wanted to leave any comments and I said no. I walked out of the room and I am sure they have seen far worse in their time. I have seen far worse and nothing has happened. It’s done now, I have got the one-game ban [still to serve] and I will do that and look forward to the Champions League. I’ve moved on.”
Blind, who played the full game against Ajax, did feature in the post-match photograph and was accompanied by a chaperone in some of the team’s celebrations, but was fined £4,600 for failing to report to doping control immediately after the game. He escaped a ban because Uefa ruled he had not used foul language towards the anti-doping officer. Both players tested negative.