FIFA waives one-game bans for Otamendi and Caicedo at World Cup after being sent off in qualifier

Yahoo Sports10h ago2 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

FIFA has waived one-game bans for Nicolas Otamendi and Moises Caicedo, allowing them to play in the World Cup despite being sent off in qualifiers. This decision is part of an amnesty for disciplinary sanctions to ensure teams compete with their strongest squads.

Key points

FIFA waived one-game bans for Otamendi and Caicedo.
The decision is part of an amnesty for World Cup qualifiers.
Otamendi received a direct red card; Caicedo got a second yellow.
Argentina defends its title against Algeria on June 16.
Ecuador starts against Ivory Coast on June 14.

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ZURICH (AP) — Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi and Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo will not have to serve one-game bans at the World Cup despite being sent off in their teams' last qualifying game, FIFA announced Friday. The unprecedented decisions are part of an amnesty of most disciplinary sanctions stemming from World Cup qualifiers instigated by the FIFA Bureau — a panel consisting of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the presidents of the six continental soccer bodies. “Single yellow cards and pending one- or two-match suspensions ... are not carried over to the final competition," FIFA said in a statement, adding it wanted to ensure teams “can compete with their strongest possible squads on the biggest stage of men’s international football.” It follows a previous unprecedented FIFA disciplinary ruling that ensured Cristiano Ronaldo will not miss any World Cup games despite a red card for using his elbow to strike an Ireland opponent in Portugal's second-last qualifier in November. The remaining two games of Ronaldo's three-game ban were deferred for a probation period. Otamendi and Caicedo both were shown red cards in Ecuador's 1-0 win over Argentina in September. Otamendi got a direct red card for fouling an attacker running clear on goal and Caicedo got a second yellow card for a hard tackle. Their mandatory one-game bans should now be served in another competition after the World Cup. Argentina opens the defense of its World Cup title against on June 16 in Kansas City. Ecuador starts against on June 14 in Philadelphia. \\_ AP soccer:

Q&A

Why did FIFA waive the one-game bans for Otamendi and Caicedo?

FIFA waived the bans as part of an amnesty for disciplinary sanctions from World Cup qualifiers, aiming to allow teams to compete with their strongest squads.

What were the circumstances of Otamendi and Caicedo's red cards?

Otamendi received a direct red card for a foul, while Caicedo was shown a second yellow card for a hard tackle during Ecuador's 1-0 win over Argentina.

When do Argentina and Ecuador play in the World Cup?

Argentina plays Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, and Ecuador faces Ivory Coast on June 14 in Philadelphia.

FIFA waives one-game bans for Otamendi and Caicedo at World Cup after being sent off in qualifier

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