Luxemburgo banned for accusing referee of flirting

RIO DE JANEIRO, Apr 25 (Reuters) Santos coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has been handed a 60-day touchline ban for accusing a referee of flirting with him during a match.

The former Real Madrid and Brazil coach made the remark after his team lost 3-1 to Sao Paulo in the Paulista championship on April 2.

''He was flirting with me,'' said Luxemburgo during the post-match media conference. ''He blew his whistle and looked at me with every decision he made....Maybe it was because of my pink shirt.'' Luxemburgo was unhappy with some of referee Rodrigo Martins Cintra's decisions, including the sending-off of central defender Luis Alberto.

Santos, who went on to win the Paulista championship, said they would appeal against the decision made by a disciplinary tribunal last night.

REUTERS RL HT2330