Shearer banned for two matches
Friday, November 29, 2002
Article summary
Newcastle United FC's Alan Shearer has received a two-match UEFA competition ban for elbowing Fabio Cannavaro.
Article body
Newcastle United FC striker Alan Shearer has been banned for two UEFA competition matches after UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body deemed that he elbowed an opponent during his side's UEFA Champions League defeat against Internazionale FC on Wednesday.
Video footage
The Control and Disciplinary Body studied video footage that showed that the former England captain elbowed Inter defender Fabio Cannavaro in the 25th minute of the match at St James' Park, which Inter won 4-1. French referee Stéphane Bre said that neither he nor his assistants saw the incident.
Shirt-pulling
Shearer told the body that an opponent had his arms wrapped around him, and that he did not elbow Cannavaro intentionally. "The decision was rendered on the basis of video evidence that showed the Newcastle United FC player elbow Fabio Cannavaro but also took into account provocation in the form of shirt-pulling leading up to the incident," said a UEFA statement on Friday.
Monday appeal deadline
The suspension means that Shearer will miss Newcastle's Champions League matches against FC Barcelona in Spain on 10 December, and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany on 18 February next year. An appeal may be lodged against the decision by Monday 2 December at midnight (CET).
