Mijailovic contests ban for racially abusing McCarthy

The Wisla Krakow defender Nikola Mijailovic has appealed against the five-match ban imposed after he racially abused the Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy.

Mijailovic was handed the ban after an investigation by Uefa, the European governing body, concluded the Serbian was guilty of making racist remarks towards the South African at the end of the Uefa Cup tie between the sides on 19 October. The 24-year-old has maintained his innocence but admitted he and McCarthy were involved in a running battle throughout the match, which was eventually won 2-1 by Mark Hughes' side.

"During the game he used numerous swear words," Mijailovic told the Serbian newspaper Kurir a day after the contest. "At the end of the match I tried to ignore him, but he came closer and started to wag his hands in front of me. I couldn't stand that any more, so I pushed him, and that was all.

"But, after that, I couldn't believe the way he was acting. He claimed I used some racist comments. Nonsense! Both of us were swearing, but there was no racist abuse at all."

The appeal against the sanction handed out by Uefa's Control and Disciplinary Body is likely to be heard today in Nyon.

Meanwhile, Mark Hughes is still waiting to hear fitness updates on several key players ahead of Blackburn's Uefa Cup meeting with Basle tomorrow. The Rovers manager could be without six first-team players for the visit of Christian Gross's team.

Ryan Nelsen, Steven Reid and Jason Roberts are already ruled out with long-term injuries. And Hughes is now sweating on the fitness of Brett Emerton, Shabani Nonda and Morten Gamst Pedersen after the trio all sat out Sunday's defeat at West Ham.

Hughes said: "We'll have to wait and see with Morten, Nonda and Brett, but they are still a doubt for Thursday. We are a little bit thin at the moment, but we need to get ourselves together and make sure we are fully focused for Basle."