Internazionale striker David Suazo has received a one-match suspension for what was deemed by the referee to be a flagrant elbow on PSV Eindhoven defender Carlos Salcido during their Matchday 2 fixture. He was only given the one-match ban and not a three-game suspension as the UEFA disciplinary committee felt that the incident could not be considered violent conduct. Suazo was shown a red card after the final whistle for an off-the-ball incident.
I had a couple of looks at the play and agree with UEFA’s ruling. It was reckless and unnecessary but did not appear to be violent conduct. The punishment for a red card is determined by the tournament or competition rules, and not by the Laws of the Game. However, FIFA has been adamant that a red card in any football competition should result in the guilty player being suspended for at least the next game without the right to appeal. Only the English FA has defied FIFA with respect to appeals for red cards.
Suazo will now miss Inter’s next Champions League outing against CSKA Moskva on October 23. Christian Chivu will also miss the game in Moscow as he received a second yellow card for kicking out at PSV forward Jason Culina in the 65th minute.
