Gattuso handed four-match ban

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has been banned for four matches after UEFA ruled he had "assaulted" Tottenham coach Joe Jordan.

The ban means Gattuso, who has three days to appeal, would not be available until the Champions League final should Milan continue to progress.

The Rossoneri vice captain clashed with Jordan during the game last week and after it, when he headbutted the 59-year-old Spurs coach.

The 33-year-old was charged by UEFA with gross sporting misconduct following the incident which attracted widespread criticism.

Gattuso later apologised, but his agent, Claudio Pasqualin, stated that Jordan, a former Milan player, had used provocative language towards the midfielder prior to their clash, calling him an "Italian b******".

Spurs declined to comment on these claims, while Jordan responded by saying: "To come up with something like that is pathetic. It is completely and utterly untrue and something so wildly inaccurate doesn't do him much credit."

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has said he hoped the incident would not do too much harm to Gattuso.

Speaking before the punishment was announced, he said: "I dont know what happened.

"I've met him before and he was a great lad, I thought what a fantastic boy he was, but he just lost his head on the day."

Milan have confirmed they will be appealing the decision.