ZURICH, Switzerland -- Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was suspended two matches and fined by UEFA on Tuesday following an incident where two of his players deliberately got red carded in a Champions League match.

Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos both earned their second yellow cards in a match against Ajax last week, earning ejections in a plan to clear their accumulated cards ahead of the knockout stage.

Alonso and Ramos, who were also fined along with Iker Casillas and Jerzy Dudek for improper conduct, picked up second yellow cards for time wasting. Although UEFA said the red cards will stand, the pair will start knockout play with one yellow card apiece.

Both are suspended for the meaningless group finale against Auxerre, as Real already qualified for the knockout stage. Mourinho will also return to the bench in the knockout stage, as his second match is deferred for three years.

Casillas and Dudek were also fined for relaying the message from Mourinho that Alonso and Ramos needed to earn a second yellow and an ejection.

Real was fined more than $150,000, with Mourinho and the players all receiving smaller fines. Real has three days to appeal the decision, which comes one day after a crushing 5-0 loss to Barcelona in the El Clasico in Spain's La Liga