Guardian sport
Football: Nicklas Bendtner handed one-match ban and €100,000 fine by Uefa for pants stunt http://bit.ly/NFXs6F
Euro 2012: Nicklas Bendtner banned and fined for underwear stunt
• Bendtner exposed sponsored boxer shorts in Portugal loss
• Denmark striker banned for one game and fined €100,000
• Bendtner exposed sponsored boxer shorts in Portugal loss
• Denmark striker banned for one game and fined €100,000
- Staff and agencies
- guardian.co.uk, Monday 18 June 2012 14.45 BST
Nicklas Bendtner with his 'lucky' boxer shorts. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images
Nicklas Bendtner has been banned for one competitive fixture and fined €100,000 (£80,383) by Uefa after exposing sponsored underwear inDenmark's European Championship defeat to Portugal last Wednesday.
After scoring his second goal of the night, in a match the Danes went on to lose 3-2, the striker pulled up his shirt and dropped his shorts slightly to reveal a pair of green boxer shorts with a betting firm's name written on them.
A statement from Uefa said: "Following the opening of disciplinary proceedings concerning the improper conduct of Denmark's Nicklas Bendtner at the Uefa Euro 2012 Group B match against Portugal in Lviv on Wednesday 13 June, the Uefa control and disciplinary body has decided to suspend the player for one competitive fixture.
"This suspension applies to the next 2014 Fifa World Cup match, including the qualifying competition, for which Bendtner is eligible. The player has also been fined €100,000."
When questioned afterwards about the incident, Bendtner, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland from Arsenal, said: "It is just a pair of lucky boxer shorts that I used in the first game as well and have used before the tournament. I didn't know I was breaking any rules but I am aware of that now."
The player has three days to lodge an appeal.
Richard Mason
UEFA fines: £45,000 Spain 2004 (racism); £16,500 Serbia 2007 (racism); £10,000 Croatia 2008 (racism). €100,000 Bendtner (exposing pants).
Hmmm...