BENFICA midfielder Augustin Binya has been banned for six Uefa matches following his red card for a reckless challenge on Scott Brown in their Champions League clash with Celtic.

BENFICA midfielder Augustin Binya has been banned for six Uefa matches following his red card for a reckless challenge on Scott Brown in their Champions League clash with Celtic.

Scotland international Brown avoided injury but claimed Binya had tried to break his leg with the tackle in the 85th minute of the November 6 match at Parkhead, which Celtic won 1-0.

Uefa's control and disciplinary body announced their verdict this morning, sparking an immediate protest from the Portuguese club, who now have the right to appeal within three working days.

The Portuguese club believe Uefa have tried to make an example of Binya, and communications chief Ricardo Maia said today: "This penalty is tough and disproportionate, taking into account the behaviour of the player during and after the game.

"Binya did not argue with the referee, he was worried about the physical condition of his professional colleague, and later apologised publicly."

In a statement, Uefa descrived Binya's challenge as one which "seriously endangered the physical health of the opposing player".

If Benfica's appeal is unsuccessful, Binya will miss their remaining Champions League Group D matches against AC Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Benfica will then have to cope without Binya for their next four matches in Europe, which could be in the latter stages of this season's Champions League or Uefa Cup.

The ban will also carry over to future seasons if Benfica finish bottom of Group D and bow out of Europe for this campaign.

The lunge which resulted in Binya being sent off was condemned this week by Scotland manager Alex McLeish as "an absolutely shocking tackle".

The referee who dismissed Binya, Sweden's Martin Hansson, also described the tackle as one of the worst he had seen.

Brown said straight after the match: "He obviously tried to do me as hard as possible."

Cameroonian Binya, 24, apologised for the challenge the day after the match. lMeanwhile, France prepare for their final European Championship qualifier by hosting Morocco tonight in a friendly.

However, winger Franck Ribery is trying hard to focus on "something else" other than the vital Scotland-Italy clash at Hampden.

"Our goal is to get a result in Ukraine," Ribery said before tonight's clash. "We need to concentrate only on this match. We should not wait for help from the Italians."