Soccer: Red card trio each receive one-match suspension

FIFA's disciplinary committee has imposed a one-match suspension on each of the three players sent off in yesterday's soccer World Cup group matches.

Croatia's Boris Zivkovic was shown the first red card of the tournament in the group G match against Mexico in Niigata, Japan, after a crude challenge in the box on Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Blanco converted the 60th minute penalty to give Mexico a 1-0 victory.

He will miss the match against Italy on June 8.

In the Brazil-Turkey group C match in Ulsan, South Korea, Turkey defender Alpay Ozalan was shown a red card by South Korean referee Kim Young-joo for pulling the shirt of substitute Luizao as he was racing towards the goal.

After the Turks had argued unsuccessfully that the offence had been committed outside the area, Rivaldo struck the penalty which gave Brazil a 2-1 win.

There was a second controversial sending-off when Turkey's Hakan Unsal received a second yellow card for kicking the ball at Rivaldo as he prepared to take a corner.

Although he was struck on the legs, Rivaldo collapsed to the ground holding his head in apparent agony.

The two Turkish players will miss the game against Costa Rica on June 9.

The World Cup disciplinary committee will study Rivaldo's reaction to see if the former world player of the year had simulated the foul.

- REUTERS

nzherald.co.nz/fifaworldcup

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