Antic handed four-game touchline ban
Reuters - Wednesday 07 July 2010, 18:42
BELGRADE - Serbia coach Radomir Antic has
been given a four-game touchline ban for dissent after their
World Cup match with Australia last month, the Serbian Football
Association (FSS) website said on Wednesday.
The FSS said FIFA, the world football governing body, had
punished Antic for unruly behaviour after Serbia's 2-1 defeat to
Australia without specifying what the coach was guilty of.
It said FIFA also fined Antic 14,000 Swiss francs ($13,280).
"As the Serbian national team failed to advance past the
group stage in the World Cup, the ban will take effect in
upcoming competitive matches," the FSS said.
"The Serbian Football Association will appeal the verdict
because the ban is too harsh, bearing in mind the overall
sportsmanlike conduct of our entire team and staff during the
World Cup.
"Effectively, it means the ban will affect Serbia's Euro
2012 qualifying campaign and it is a punishment of not only
Antic, but the national team and Serbian football in general."
Serbia's Euro 2012 qualifying group includes Italy,
Slovenia, Northern Ireland, Estonia and Faroe Islands.
Serbia crashed out at the group stage in the World Cup
despite beating World Cup semi-finalists Germany 1-0.
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