Manchester United consider appealing Phil Jones’ two-match European ban for ‘abusing drug testers’
Jones and fellow defender Daley Blind have landed in hot water over alleged misbehaviour in front of drug testers after United's Europa League victory over Ajax in May
MANCHESTER UNITED are considering an appeal over Phil Jones' controversial two-match ban for allegedly abusing a drug tester, according to reports.
The defenders were also stung with £4,500 fines by Uefa for failing to take drug tests immediately after the 2-0 Europa League final victory over Ajax.
There is no suggestion either player has been guilty of doping, but the club were also fined £8,900 for rule breaches.
Jones and Blind were both reportedly keen to celebrate with their team-mates after clinching the trophy.
They also wanted to take part in the dressing room picture, where the players held a banner in support of the victims of the Manchester bombing that killed 22 people.
They both gave urine and blood samples to doping officials - but Jones is understood to have expressed their frustration.
According to the Mail, United will lodge an appeal with Uefa.
Jones will miss United's Uefa Super Cup clash against Real Madrid on Tuesday and the opening group match of their Champions League campaign, with the opposition still to be drawn.
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Ironically Jones, 25, was an unused substitute in Stockholm as United ground out a 2-0 win over Ajax thanks to goals from Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Mourinho said after United's 2-1 win over Sampdoria in Dublin that the post-match celebrations were different to a usual drug-testing procedure.
The United boss said: "I put yourself in his position.
"He wins a European cup, he wants to celebrate with his team, he wants to get the cup, the medal, he wants to be in the pictures and one doctor wants to close him in a small room because of doping control.
"I think it's very hard to control a player in this situation and Uefa should take that into consideration.
"It's not a normal match, it's a final and I think it would be easier for the doping control committee to have someone at the pitch with him to see there is nothing wrong with him, just a human desire to celebrate."
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