Bayern Munich said on Friday that they will appeal the two-match Champions League suspension handed to Thomas Muller, which means the Germany international will miss both legs of their last-16 tie against Liverpool.
European football’s governing body Uefa handed Muller a two-match ban on Friday following his sending-off in the 3-3 draw away to Ajax in their final group game last month.
Muller was shown the first straight red card of his career for kicking Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico in the head.
The 29-year-old will definitely miss the away leg at Anfield on February 19, but Bayern hope a successful appeal would mean Muller could play the return at the Allianz Arena on March 13.
Muller apologised following the sending-off, insisting he meant to kick the ball.
“No, no, of course I didn’t mean to do it. It wasn’t intentional,” Muller told reporters, but Bayern coach Niko Kovac said the red card was the correct decision.
Muller has five goals and six assists in 25 matches in all competitions this season.
Like Muller, Ajax midfielder Maximilian Woeber has also been given a two-match suspension for his horror tackle, in the same game, on Bayern’s Leon Goretzka, which also led to the Austrian international being shown a straight red.
Woeber will miss both legs of Ajax’s last-16 tie against holders Real Madrid.