Two bits of news today.
First, German midfielder Torsten Frings is suspended from semi-final, after Italian journalists scour TV footage and find punch.
Quote:
BERLIN, July 3 (Reuters) - Germany's Torsten Frings was suspended by FIFA on Monday for the World Cup semi-final against Italy in Dortmund on Tuesday, German media reported.
A FIFA investigation began after television executives from Italy said they had found evidence that Frings threw a punch at Argentina forward Julio Ricardo Cruz in the fracas that followed Germany's quarter-final shootout win on Friday.
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Controversy even before the game starts then.
And secondly, European champions Greece suspended from world game after perceived government interference.
Quote:
BERLIN (Reuters) - FIFA suspended Greece from all footballing activities on Monday, citing continued government interference in the running of the Greek FA (the Hellenic Football Federation).
The ruling means that the national side and club teams are banned from playing any international friendly or competitive matches or any international club matches until the country conforms to FIFA and UEFA regulations.
World soccer's governing body warned the Greek government at its Congress in Morocco last September that it would be suspended from membership unless the autonomy of the HFF was respected.
In a statement on Monday FIFA said there was no possibility of this happening by the imposed deadline of July 15 and the disciplinary committee had suspended Greece as a result.
"In spite of repeated warnings from both FIFA and UEFA, the commitment expressed by Greek government representatives to amend the law on sport to irrevocably recognise that football matters can only be decided by the HFF and its subordinated football structures has not been respected," FIFA said.
Greek FA chief Vassilis Gagatsis, who has repeatedly clashed with Sports Minister George Orfanos over the non-independence matter, refused to comment on the suspension.
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Full article:
http://za.today.reuters.com/news/New...E-20060703.XML