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.
