Quintero receives six-match ban
Reuters - Tuesday 05 April 2011, 14:14
MEXICO CITY - Santos Laguna's Colombian
striker Darwin Quintero, who said he headbutted an opponent
after being racially abused, has been banned for six matches for
violent conduct by the Mexican Football Federation.
Quintero was sent off after 71 minutes of Santos' 3-0 win
over Cruz Azul on Saturday for a headbutt on Argentine opponent
Christian 'Chaco' Gimenez.
"Darwin Quintero of Santos is sanctioned with a suspension
of six matches: three for being guilty of violent conduct and
three more for aggression towards another player or member of
the rival team after being sent off in the match," the disciplinary committee said in a statement issued late on
Monday.
Quintero, who scored the opening goal, had been brought down
in the box and said afterwards he had reacted to being racially
abused by defender Rogelio Chavez. The penalty was converted by
Juan Pablo Rodriguez for Santos' third goal.
The 23-year-old Colombia forward said on Sunday that Chavez
had called him a "simian" and Gimenez had pushed him.
"If they call you a negro you let it pass, but when you're
called a simian you're not used to having such things said about
you," Quintero was quoted as telling the sports daily Record's
website.
PROBE REQUESTED
"Then Chaco pushed me and I headbutted him. I should have
restrained myself because we were leading. I reacted very badly,
but it's done."
Quintero's Ecuadorean team mate Christian Benitez told
Record: "The federation is exaggerating a bit, they should take
into account how he was provoked, six matches is a lot, I
expected two or three, but six is too much."
Santos said they were sending a formal complaint to the
Femexfut asking for an investigation. Chavez has denied
offending Quintero.
Femexfut rules say a player found guilty of racial insults
towards an opponent will be suspended for a minimum of five
matches and fined between 216,000 and 345,000 Mexican pesos
(£11,220-£17,921).
Quintero will miss the remaining five matches in the
round-robin phase of the Clausura championship and the
quarter-finals if Santos qualify.
Santos, runners-up to Monterrey in the Apertura in the first
half of the season, are a lowly fifth in Group One, 10 points
adrift of leaders Tigres UANL and seven behind Monterrey.
The top two teams in each of the three groups plus the next
two best-placed teams in the overall standings go through to the
knockout phase.