Low banned from touchline

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Germany coach Joachim Low has been banned from the touchline for Thursday's Euro 2008 quarter-final with Portugal after being "sent off" in their last Group B match, a senior UEFA source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Low was ordered to watch the second half of Germany's win over Austria on Monday from the stands after arguing with the fourth official just before halftime. Austrian counterpart Josef Hickersberger was similarly banished from the touchline.

"I have to acknowledge the UEFA decision and would not like to comment on it. Naturally I'm extremely disappointed," Low said in a DFB statement on its website (www.dfb.de).

DFB president Theo Zwanziger said: "It certainly wasn't an easy decision for UEFA and they spent a lot of time considering the issue before reaching their ruling."