ZURICH (AP) — FIFA banned Uruguayan players Fernando Muslera and José María Giménez on Friday for four games each for aggressively confronting referees when the team was eliminated from the World Cup last month.
Veterans Edinson Cavani and Diego Godin must also serve a one-match suspension when Uruguay next plays, FIFA said when announcing the disciplinary verdicts..
All players must perform community service in a soccer project and pay fines of up to 20,000 Swiss francs ($21,600), FIFA said.
Disorder erupted when Uruguay failed to advance to the round of 16 in Qatar despite beating Ghana 2-0 in their final group game on December 2.
The Uruguayan soccer federation was also fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000) and must close part of its stadium for a home game.
FIFA’s disciplinary judges ruled that the federation “was responsible for the discriminatory behavior of its supporters, as well as for misconduct, offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play” by the players.
Uruguay’s players confronted German referee Daniel Siebert after the final whistle at the Al Janoub Stadium.
They believed that Uruguay should be awarded a stoppage time penalty kick. One more goal scored would have sent Uruguay to the round of 16 instead of South Korea.
Cavani, Godín and Muslera were each playing their fourth World Cup and Giménez in his third.
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