UEFA Communications Director Mike Lee said the organisation would consider comments made by Celtic manager Martin O'Neill in the aftermath of the UEFA Cup Final in Seville last night about time-wasting, feigning of injury by some of the Portugese club's players and the referee before deciding on any course of disciplinary action.
O'Neill said when asked about the Porto tactics, "I wasn't pleased with it, I was not pleased at all. They are very talented footballers and I am afraid I was not pleased. Lots of things were going on there, but it doesn't matter now, it's gone, I cannot change it." He later added: "You should get what you deserve in a game and I thought we deserved more."
"The sending off (of Bobo Balde) had a big effect and it looked as if a few seconds earlier Henrik Larsson had been fouled and the referee waved play on. The referee looked very young and he will learn from this. He will learn that if you score a goal the kick-off should not be five minutes later." Match official Lubos is 35 and was the first Slovakian to take charge of a UEFA cup final since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993.
The Portugese players engaged in extensive celebrations in the penalty box after their late goal and subsequently captain and goalkeeper Vitor Baia jumped and rolled almost 15 yards up the pitch after being nicked on the leg by a Celtic player. Even though no free kick had been given prior to Baia's leaving of the penalty area with the ball in his hand, one was awarded back where he was initially touched when he eventually regained his feet.
UEFA communications director Mike Lee said: "We will have to look at whatMartin has said. The fact is that players on both sides maybe have to look at themselves. The attitude on the field was not the best. There were two red cards - they were both totally justified. We feel the referee, on the whole, had a good game but there were attitudes at times from Celtic and Porto players which were not the best."
UEFA have received the referee's report from the game but referee Michel made no mention of the comments. The European governing body will now wait for the official report from UEFA delegate Michal Listkiewicz and referee's observer Michel Vautrot.
Filed by Brendan Cole
