'Unsporting' Adriano slapped with one-match ban

PARIS (AFP) –

Shakhtar Donetsk forward Luiz Adriano, pictured on December 20, has been banned for one Champions League match for his controversial goal against Denmark’s Nordsjaelland, UEFA confirmed on Tuesday.

Shakhtar Donetsk forward Luiz Adriano has been banned for one Champions League match for his controversial goal against Denmark’s Nordsjaelland, UEFA confirmed on Tuesday.

The Brazilian striker will miss their final group game at home to Juventus for “violation of the principles of conduct” in last week’s game at the Danish side.

UEFA also ordered the striker to do “one full day of community football service”.

Adriano scored after team-mate Willian, following an uncontested bounce ball by the referee, punted the ball towards the Danes’ keeper after a foul on Morten Nordstrand.

However, Adriano latched onto the ball, raced through a bemused defence and rounded the keeper to level the match at 1-1.

Adriano had ended up with a hattrick in a 5-2 victory which took his side into the last 16 to continue a glorious season in which the Pitmen from the Donbass mining belt are also leading the domestic league.

The billionaire owner of the Ukrainian champions also rebuked his side over the goal. “I would like to make it clear publicly that everyone associated with our club is deeply disappointed with the incident which occurred during the Champions League match,” said Shakhtar’s president, the metals and mining tycoon Rinat Akhmetov.

He said “such an incident is clearly unacceptable for representatives of Shakhtar Donetsk” and pledged the team would ensure “nothing of this sort ever happens again.”