Brazil left back Roberto Carlos has been suspended from national team matches following an allegation that he attacked the referee during Brazil’s friendly in Portugal ten days ago.
FIFA confirmed the provisional suspension from all matches with Brazil would come into effectuntil FIFA’s disciplinary committee next meets.
FIFA revealed that referee Alon Yefet reported that the player had intentionally pushed him during Portugal’s 2-1 win in Porto on March 29.
“Any attack on a referee is to be regarded as a serious matter,” FIFA said in a statement.
“The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Marcel Mathier, can, in emergencies, pronounce a provisional sanction in cases in which it is likely that an offence was committed,” it added.
“As the documents submitted to FIFA confirm the inappropriate behaviour of Roberto Carlos, Mr Mathier has decided to provisionally suspend him from all Brazilian national team matches – whether friendly or competitive – until the FIFA Disciplinary Committee can pass an official decision in this regard.”
Roberto Carlos has until midnight on Wednesday to lodge an appeal against the suspension. The suspension does not apply to club football, meaning the Brazilian is free to play in Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final showdown against Manchester United tomorrow night.
