Former Real Madrid star Fabio Coentrao hit with one-game ban – despite retiring a YEAR ago to become a fisherman

EX-REAL MADRID defender Fabio Coentrao has earned football's most pointless ban - 15 months after quitting playing to become a fisherman.

The former Portugal star has been suspended for one game following a flare-up in April 2021, despite retiring a month later.

It shows Coentrao is still making waves in the sport, more than a year after giving up the high life for the deep seas.

The Portuguese Football Federation have finally handed down punishments after investigating the climax of a heated 3-3 draw between Boavista and Coentrao's last club Rio Ave.

Left-back Coentrao netted Rio Ave's third equaliser in stoppage-time after red cards for one player on each side and a Boavista coach.

Now the ex-Benfica hero, 34, has been suspended and fined €850 - about £725 - for "injuries and reputational offences".

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Coentrao is a close pal of Manchester United's wantaway legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

But while Coentrao has been banned from playing, Ron has been panned for trying to play somewhere elsewhere.

And Wednesday's suspension just confirmed how far the duo's careers have diverged.

But there could be one similarity to come.

Coentrao wound down his career at his first club Rio Ave.

And fellow countryman Ron could rev his back up with his original team - Sporting Lisbon.

United are still tipped to keep the 37-year-old beyond the transfer window.