Low was furious at being sent to the stands in their final group game

Germany coach Joachim Low has been banned from the touchline for their Euro 2008 quarter-final against Portugal on Thursday.

Low was sent off along with Austria boss Josef Hickersberger in his team's 1-0 win on Monday, but Low denies he insulted the fourth official.

"I am disappointed as I have nothing to reproach myself for," he said.

Low will not be allowed any contact with his players once they get to the stadium in Basel, Switzerland.

Low added: "I am disappointed that Uefa took such an astonishing decision. I had no argument with Hickersberger.

"I just wanted to have some calm as right from the start of the match the fourth official was bugging me.

"He kept saying to me 'go back, go back, back to your seat'. As I wanted to keep my concentration and work calmly I became more testy, without insulting him."

Low's assistant Hansi Flick will take charge from the bench, as he did for the rest of the match against Austria.

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Team manager Oliver Bierhoff believes Uefa has overreacted and has punished Low twice.

"This decision is a heavy defeat for football," he said. "The ban for the game against Portugal is something we cannot understand because our national team manager merely wants to do his job.

"He was sent to the stands without any warning against Austria and was punished enough when he wasn't allowed back on to the bench for the second half.

"He didn't say anything to offend anyone - that was made clear in the referee's report. I'm confident that the Uefa ban will only spur on our team to deliver an appropriate response on the pitch."

German football association president Theo Zwanziger called for the players to overcome Low's and make it through to the semis.

"Uefa certainly didn't take this decision lightly and considered for a long time before coming to a definitive decision," said Zwanziger.

"Now I hope that our national team shows its best side against Portugal in performance, competition and tactics. "

Low's opposite number for the match, Portugal manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, insisted that the German boss should be allowed to be with his team for the crucial game.

"If I could in any way influence Uefa, I would like to see that decision be reviewed and I would like to see the team on the bench," he said.

"I would applaud Uefa if they let the German coach stay on the German bench so he could manage his team.

"It won't influence the game that much and I see no harm in letting him do his job."