Frei handed three-match ban
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Article summary
Switzerland forward Alexander Frei has received a three-match ban for spitting at Steven Gerrard.
Article body
Initial suspension
Frei was initially suspended for 15 days pending an appeal and so sat out his side's final match in Portugal against France. Today the UEFA Appeals Body, which had reviewed video evidence of the incident, handed Frei a three-match ban, although in effect he has already served one game of the suspension by missing the defeat by France.
Video evidence
As well as considering video evidence, which had been unavailable to UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body when it awarded Frei his initial ban, the Appeals Body also studied statements from various witnesses and the parties involved.
Conclusion
It concluded that Frei, who celebrated his 25th birthday today, had spat from behind at the neck of Gerrard in the 77th minute of the Group B match, played on 17 June, which England won 3-0. The Appeals Body also decided there was no evidence of a disciplinary infringement on the part of the Swiss Football Association.
