FIFA bans 4 Uruguay players for disorder at 2022 World Cup

FIFA banned Uruguay players Fernando Muslera and José Maria Gimenez for four games each on Friday for aggressively confronting match officials when the team was eliminated from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Veterans Edinson Cavani and Diego Godin must also serve one-game bans when Uruguay next plays, FIFA said in disciplinary verdicts.

The players must all carry out community service on a soccer project and pay fines of up to 20,000 Swiss francs ($21,600), FIFA said.

Disorder flared when Uruguay failed to advance to the round of 16 in Qatar despite beating Ghana 2-0 in its final group-stage game on Dec. 2.

The Uruguayan soccer federation was also fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000) and must close some of its stadiums for one home game.

FIFA disciplinary judges ruled the federation "was responsible for the discriminatory behaviour of its supporters as well as for the misconduct, offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play" by players.

Uruguay players confronted German referee Daniel Siebert after the final whistle at Al Janoub Stadium.

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They believed Uruguay should have been awarded a penalty kick in stoppage time.

One more goal scored would have sent Uruguay to the round of 16 instead of South Korea.

South Korea advanced instead and created one of the most memorable images of the World Cup.

As Uruguay and Ghana played out stoppage time across the city in Doha, South Korean players and staff gathered in the center circle after their 2-1 win over Portugal to watch on cellphones as their rivals played and waited to discover who would advance as the runner-up in Group H.

Cavani, Godin and goalkeeper Muslera were each playing at their fourth World Cup and Gimenez was at his third.

Uruguay has not yet announced its opponents for games in the late March international break.