Alonso's Spain ban cut on appeal
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Article summary
Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso will be available for a potentially decisive qualifier against Sweden next month after UEFA reduced his three-match ban to two on appeal.
Article body
Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso will be available for a potentially decisive UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Sweden next month after UEFA reduced his three-match ban to two on appeal.
One game left
The decision by European football's governing body will leave Alonso unavailable for one more UEFA European Championship game – Saturday's Group F trip to Denmark – as he was suspended for their previous qualifier against Latvia last month.
Spanish appeal
Alonso was sent off in the 21st minute of the match in Iceland on 8 September, receiving a straight red card for a challenge on an opponent. The Spanish Football Federation had appealed against his three-game ban. The 25-year-old has not played for his club, Liverpool FC, since mid-September due to a broken foot, but is expected to be fit to face Sweden in Madrid on 17 November. Spain are second in Group F but sit level on points with the Swedish leaders.
