New Portugal manager Fernando Santos will not be allowed to take charge of his team on the sidelines during nearly the entirety of their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. He's been handed an 8-game ban by FIFA and has lost his appeal, meaning the ban will stick unless he appeals again with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Portugal manager banned during Euro 2016 qualifying
Fernando Santos has lost his appeal against an 8-game ban, and will now miss most of his team’s Euro 2016 qualifying fixtures.
Ian Walton
Santos' ban came after a sending off during the World Cup, when he was manager of Greece. He was banished from the touchline after berating officials, and his tirade was apparently so severe that FIFA deemed it worthy of a very lengthy ban. Portugal hired Santos despite this, and will now have to qualify for the European Championship without his guidance during big matches.
Portugal are already in deep trouble too, having lost at home to Albania in their first qualifier. There are seven matches remaining and they can make a playoff with just a third place finish, but that was arguably the easiest fixture that they will face in qualifying. Their qualifying campaign resumes on October 14, when they go away to Denmark.
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