Summary Zidane was elevated to reserve team coach at the beginning of this season.
Madrid (AFP) - France legend Zinedine Zidane was on Monday sanctioned as Real Madrid s reserve team coach for failing to have the required coaching badge, the Spanish champions announced.
Spanish sports daily Marca reported that the 1998 World Cup hero had picked up a three month suspension.
Zidane -- who had been linked with the head coach role at Ligue 1 side Bordeaux in the close season -- has fallen foul of the Spanish Football Federation for taking charge of Real s reserve side Castilla without the necessary qualifications.
The reserve team s assistant coach Santiago Sanchez was also punished.
Real issued a statement declaring their "absolute disagreement" with the decision.
They pointed out that Zidane "has been authorised by the French Football Federation to work as a head coach in the category Real Madrid Castilla currently find themselves in".
The statement concluded: "Real Madrid will pursue every available legal avenue so that this decision is overturned."
Zidane was elevated to reserve team coach at the beginning of this season following a single campaign as Carlo Ancelotti s assistant which saw Real win a 10th European Cup in May.
Spanish coaching school, the Cenafe, has submitted a complaint to the Spanish Federation against Real, claiming they are using assistant Sanchez s name on the teamsheet to bypass the regulations.
The case has sparked controversy in Spain with national team coach Vicente del Bosque telling Cope radio station that "everyone should have a coaching badge".
Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez used tougher language, describing Real s actions as "shameful".
However, both Ancelotti and Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff have spoken out in support of Zidane.
