FIFA bans Canada forward Occean for 6 matches

Published: 06:26:33 PM, Mon 11 February 2013 UTC

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has ordered Canada forward Olivier Occean to serve a six-match ban after being sent off and then insulting the referee during a World Cup qualifier against Cuba.

Occean was sent off after a scuffle during Canada's 3-0 victory in Toronto last Oct. 12. Occean then was involved in "several acts of unsporting behavior and using offensive language toward match officials," FIFA said in a statement.

FIFA also ordered the 31-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt player to pay a total of 8,500 Swiss francs ($9,250) to cover a fine and costs of the proceedings. He can appeal the sanctions.

Occean served the first of his six-match sanction days after the incident, when Canada lost 8-1 against Honduras and was eliminated from the 2014 World Cup.

Occean must serve his ban at competitive matches, starting with the Gold Cup tournament in July.

The Canada-Cuba qualifier previously attracted headlines as three visiting players defected, leaving a squad of just 11 for the match.

Tags: ap, fifa, zurich, eintracht frankfurt, conmebol, incident, toronto, canada, fifa world cup, statement, proceedings, victory, player, oct., world cup, association football, sports, total, sanctions, frankfurt am main, switzerland, costs, ice hockey, competitive matches, match officials, offensive language, honduras, referee, world cup qualifier, scuffle, swiss francs, acts, occean, forward olivier occean, 31-year-old eintracht frankfurt, gold cup tournament, canada-cuba qualifier, six-match ban, unsporting behavior, six-match sanction

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