Ezatolahi Misses First Game at FIFA World Cup

FIFA has banned the Iranian national football team player Saeid Ezatolahi from playing in Iran’s first match at the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA says its disciplinary panel imposed a two-game suspension on the 21-year-old midfielder for his red card against South Korea in a qualifying match in Seoul on Aug. 31, Tasnim News Agency reported.

Ezatolahi brought his boot down on the head of South Korea midfielder Kim Min-Jae, who had fallen facing the turf after the two clashed in an aerial challenge.

The first game of Ezatolahi’s suspension was served by missing a 2-2 draw with Syria, which completed Iran’s qualifying program.

Iran, coached by Carlos Queiroz, was the first Asian team to advance to the World Cup in Russia.