Manchester United withdraw Phil Jones appeal and European suspension stands

Phil Jones will not be available for selection for Manchester United's Champions League group opener on 12 September.

Jones was charged by Uefa for swearing at an anti-doping official after last season's Europa League final. The defender was hit with a two-game ban and fined £5,000 for the offence, which his club initially appealed. However Times reporter Paul Hirst revealed on Friday that United had withdrawn the appeal, which therefore confirms his suspension for the Red Devils' opening group game against Basel. Jones already served one game of his ban during the Uefa Super Cup match against Real Madrid. https://twitter.com/hirstclass/status/903587412667977728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manchestereveningnews.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Ftransfer-news%2Fmanchester-united-transfer-news-live-13557912 Jones remains disappointed with how he has been treated and has suggested that his punishment for the use of foul language is unfair when compared to how more egregious offences are dealt with. "To be honest I couldn’t believe it," Jones told the Telegraph. "It’s slightly harsh. You see players go in for leg-breaking challenges and they get a one-game ban or a two-game ban. I could understand if I didn’t comply with the rules but I did, oh well that’s football, that’s what they’ve seen. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_UK/status/900431219795648512 "Anyone can understand that in a situation like that maybe there was language that was inappropriate but it definitely wasn’t directed to the official himself. I definitely didn’t look at him in his eye and say that he was this and that. Looking back on it now, did I deserve a fine? Possibly but a two-game ban is a bit out of the ordinary."