AEK Athens coach banned and fined for obscene gesture

AEK Athens’ Spanish coach Manolo Jimenez was banned for 15 days and fined 10,000 euros by the Greek Super League on Friday for an obscene gesture towards fans of local rival Panathinaikos. The league also fined AEK 10,000 euros after Jimenez flipped the bird at opposing fans as AEK drew 1-1, a result that left the club tied in first place with PAOK Thessaloniki on 21 points. The ban means that 53-year-old Jimenez will miss league contests with Platania (November 27) and Levadiakos (December 3) and the Greek Cup game against Kallithea (November 30). "I have a career over 30 years and will accept the decision as a man, but I want to tell the fans of AEK and especially Panathinaikos that this gesture was directed to a particular person who offended my mother," Jimenez told Nova cable channel. "I do not justify my action and I completely regret it," he added.