Monday 27 October 2014 20:09, UK
Real Madrid say they are in "absolute disagreement" with the suspension handed out to Zinedine Zidane for supposedly coaching their B team without the necessary qualifications.
According to reports in Spain, Zidane was on Monday handed a three-month ban by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) for coaching Real Madrid Castilla - who play in the third-tier Segunda Division B division - without having the level three coaching licence required in Spain.
Santiago Sanchez, who Madrid say is in charge of Castilla with Zidane as his assistant, was also handed the same punishment.
However, Madrid released a statement on Monday night saying they will fight the ruling.
The statement read: "In response to the sanction handed down by the Competition Committee to Real Madrid Castilla's head coach and second coach, Santiago Sanchez and Zinedine Zidane respectively, Real Madrid would like to outline the following:
"1. The club's absolute disagreement with the decision, not least of all because Zinedine Zidane has been authorised by the French Football Federation to work as a head coach in the category Real Madrid Castilla currently find themselves in, as the certificate issued by said Federation from 13 October 2014 states.
"2. Real Madrid will pursue every available legal avenue so that this decision is overturned."
Former French World Cup winner Zidane was named as coach of Castilla in June, having been assistant to first-team boss Carlo Ancelotti for the 2012/13 campaign.
However, the ex-Madrid superstar, 42, has found himself under the spotlight for not having the required coaching licence, with Rayo Vallecano boss Paco Jemez having been highly critical of the situation earlier this month, describing it as "embarrassing".
Spain's national association of coaches also made a complaint about Zidane in September, and on Monday the RFEF's Competition Committee reportedly handed out a three-month suspension from coaching for the Frenchman and Sanchez.
