Champions League

UEFA bans Adriano for one match

See Adriano's controversial goal for Shakhtar Donetsk.
See Adriano's controversial goal for Shakhtar Donetsk.
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NYON, Switzerland (AP)

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

Review the best images from the Champions League's group stage.

Shakhtar Donetsk forward Luiz Adriano was banned for one Champions League match on Tuesday for a lack of fair play in scoring a goal uncontested against Nordsjaelland.

UEFA said its disciplinary panel found the Brazilian forward guilty of ''violation of the principles of conduct'' in Denmark last week.

''The Shakhtar player has also been required to perform one full day of community football service,'' UEFA said in a statement.

Luiz Adriano provoked outrage last Tuesday when he ignored the sportsmanship code after play was stopped to treat an injured opponent. After play restarted with an uncontested drop ball, he chased the ball down when Nordsjaelland defenders stopped to let it to reach their goalkeeper and went on to score.

The controversial goal was allowed by the referee and leveled the score at 1-1. Luiz Adriano eventually scored three in the victory which sealed Shakhtar's place in the last 16.

Luiz Adriano will miss the match at home to Juventus on Dec. 5, though the Ukrainian champion has already reached the knockout stage after beating Nordsjaelland 5-2.

For Shakhtar, the final group game will simply decide how it is seeded in the last-16 draw. Juventus needs at least a draw to be sure of eliminating defending champion Chelsea.

Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu initially defended Luiz Adriano, saying the forward turned his back to play and had not seen that teammate Willian intended his kick downfield to go through to the `keeper.

Still, the club's oligarch owner Rinat Akhmetov said Monday that the behavior was ''unacceptable.''

''I would like to make it clear publicly that everyone associated with our club is deeply disappointed with the incident,'' Akhmetov said in a statement. ''I have personally spoken to the players about their responsibilities as role models for young fans of Shakhtar, and of football as a whole.''

Shakhtar will win the group if it avoids defeat against the Italian champion without its leading striker.

Chelsea, the defending champion, can still advance if it beats Nordsjaelland and Juventus loses in Ukraine.

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