Online Reporter
Boca Juniors players Ander Herrera and Nicolas Figal were handed four-match bans by FIFA after being sent off in their Club World Cup opener against Benfica, a spokesperson for the Argentine club told Reuters on Wednesday.
Boca disagreed with the sanctions imposed on their players after Benfica’s Andrea Belotti received a two-match ban for catching Ayrton Costa in the head with a high boot in the 72nd minute.
“We have already contacted FIFA to submit an appeal,” said the club spokesperson.
Spanish midfielder Herrera, who was subbed off due to a muscle injury, was shown a red card in the 45th minute after protesting to Mexican referee Cesar Ramos from the bench over a penalty awarded to the Portuguese side.
Defender Figal was sent off in the 88th minute with a straight red card for a foul on Florentino Luis when the match was tied at 2-2.
Boca will face Bayern Munich at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami today in their second match in Group C.
Meanwhile, RB Salzburg’s Club World Cup Group H clash against Pachuca on Wednesday in Cincinnati was suspended in the second half because of a storm.
The Austrian side were leading their Mexican opponents 1-0 through Oscar Gloukh’s goal before the game at the TQL Stadium was suspended after 54 minutes.
Spanish giants Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Hilal elsewhere in the group earlier in the day.
On Tuesday Mamelodi Sundowns’ match against Ulsan HD was delayed before kick-off by just over an hour because of a storm warning in Orlando.
Common public safety protocols in the US mandate that outdoor sports events are suspended for at least 30 minutes when lightning is seen or thunder heard. − Reuters
Mathew Masinge