Soccer: Germany's Frings banned from semi-final

Torsten Frings

BERLIN - Germany midfielder Torsten Frings has been banned from Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against Italy for punching an Argentine player in the brawl that followed his team's quarter-final victory, FIFA said.

World soccer's governing body began an investigation after an Italian television station broadcast pictures they said proved Frings threw a punch at Argentina forward Julio Ricardo Cruz following Germany's win in a penalty shootout on Friday.

The judgment pronounced on Frings was the result of the unequivocal television images showing his assault on Cruz," FIFA said in a statement.

The German camp says Argentina started the fracas. One Argentine player, Leandro Cufre, was given a red card after the shootout, which Germany won 4-2. Another Argentine, Maxi Rodriguez, is also under investigation.

FIFA said the 29-year-old Frings would be suspended initially for only one game, making him eligible for the World Cup final on Sunday if Germany defeat Italy in his absence.

FIFA's disciplinary committee also ruled that Frings would be on probation for the next six months and would face at least another one-match ban if he re-offends during that period.

"Given the fact that he had previously been provoked by his opponents, the second match suspension is subject to a six-month probationary period," FIFA said in a statement.

The Werder Bremen player was also fined 5,000 Swiss francs (NZ$6,700).

'Very disappointed'

Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff was informed of the suspension soon after the side arrived in Dortmund to prepare for Wednesday's match, the German Football Association said.

"The team is very disappointed about the FIFA decision. We found out about it on the plane on the way here to Dortmund," Bierhoff told reporters.

"We haven't seen the written reasons but will accept the FIFA decision. Frings will get a special training programme to be completely fit for the final.

"Torsten is obviously not very happy about it. He'll be able to go at full steam for the final, though."

Frings has started every game of Germany's World Cup campaign so far and would have been certain to be in the line-up against Italy in Dortmund.

Klinsmann could call on Tim Borowski or Sebastian Kehl to replace him.

Frings had protested his innocence, saying he simply put out his hands to protect himself during the fracas.

FIFA initially said it was taking no action against any Germany player but later re-opened the case after the television images came to light.

Italy soccer coach Marcello Lippi said today nobody in Italy's camp had made any moves to get FIFA to open an investigation into Germany midfielder Torsten Frings.

"Let this be clear for everyone, no-one from our side has lifted a finger for this to happen. There was disbelief on our part this morning," Lippi told a news conference.

- REUTERS