UEFA suspend Roma and Bodo/Glimt coaches after assault allegations

Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen and Roma goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos have been provisionally suspended by UEFA following assault allegations.

Santos was accused of assaulting Knutsen in the tunnel after Jose Mourinho's men fell to a 2-1 first-leg defeat in their Europa League Conference quarter-final in Norway last Thursday. 

Both clubs released statements in the aftermath of the incident, with Roma announcing that they were cooperating with UEFA and local authorities to investigate the claims.

The Norwegian champions accused their opponents of "bombarding the media with untruths" relating to the altercation, and European football's governing body has since announced its decision on the matter.

Both coaches will be provisionally suspended from European fixtures until a further ruling is made on the case by UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.

Bodo/Glimt have since questioned the decision by UEFA as they promised to appeal the verdict.

"We are surprised and shocked by UEFA’s decision," the club said in a statement. "We will appeal, and will work on that throughout [Monday] evening."

Knutsen, who alleged that Santos grabbed him by the neck and pushed him against a wall during a heated alteration outside the dressing rooms after the match, explained how the confrontation left him facing a dilemma in football.

"Events like this make me want to move into a different field. I even considered whether it was really a good idea to continue working in football," he said to Norwegian outlet Avisa Nordland.

"What happened is so far from my values, those of the club and of Norwegian football. In these situations, you need to find strength in yourself and react in the best possible way.

"The most important thing for me is being able to look yourself in the mirror. If I couldn't do that anymore, I would really have to consider if this was worth it."

Roma will attempt to overturn the first-leg deficit when they welcome Bodo/Glimt to the Stadio Olimpico for the crucial return leg on Thursday.