Ribery loses appeal

Bayern Munich playmaker Franck Ribery lost his appeal to UEFA against a three-match ban, European football's governing body said after a hearing yesterday.

Ribery is set to miss the Champions League final against Inter on May 22 after the ban was imposed when he was sent off for a foul in the semi-final first leg clash with Lyon.

"The appeals body has fully upheld the initial decision made by the body of first instance, the UEFA control and disciplinary body, and has confirmed the three-match suspension of Franck Ribery in UEFA club competitions," said UEFA spokesman Robert Faulkner.

However, Faulkner said Ribery could lodge an appeal against the latest ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed UEFA's decision was too harsh and said the club intended to appeal to CAS, possibly next week.

"We think that this is far too harsh a decision," he told journalists in Nyon.

"We're not happy with the decision here."