UEFA bans Celtic captain Brown for 3 matches

UEFA banned Celtic captain Scott Brown for three Champions League matches on Thursday for kicking Barcelona forward Neymar.

Brown was shown a red card for clipping the Brazilian as he lay on the ground during Barcelona's 1-0 win in Glasgow on Oct. 1.

UEFA said its disciplinary panel increased the automatic one-match ban to a three-match sanction.

Celtic said it would challenge the verdict, which forces Brown to miss matches at home and away to Ajax, and at home against AC Milan.

''The club finds this to be excessive and they will be appealing against the decision,'' the Scottish champion said in a statement.

Celtic is in last place in the group after losing its first two matches.