THE United Football League on Thursday has cracked the whip on two players who were involved in kicking incidents in the last two months.
Philippine Army’s Rodrigo Betita has been handed a six-month suspension for kicking assistant referee Ronaldo Yurag on his left leg in the Troopers’ 3-0 loss to Kaya last Tuesday.
Green Archers United’s Elle Cagayanan, on the other hand, has been suspended for at least five games for his flying kick to Kaya’s Dario Dakic in their game last month.
In a letter signed by UFL general manager Cesar de Larrazabal addressed to the management of Army, the league based Betita’s additional penalty on chapter 11, section 2, article 49, paragraph 1b of the Fifa disciplinary code or misconduct against match officials.
In Cagayanan’s case, the league cited article 48, paragraph 1d of the same chapter and section of the Fifa disciplinary code or misconduct against opponents or persons other than match officials.
“These sanctions are the minimum sanction based on Fifa rules. Disciplinary committee may increase sanctions,” UFL chairman Santi Araneta said in a text message on Thursday.
Dakic, Cagayanan's victim who actually triggered the melee when he assaulted the Archers’ Chieffy Caligdong, has been suspended for two matches.
Archers manager Monchu Garcia also didn’t escape sanction as he is slapped at least a two-game suspension for assaulting Kaya goalkeeper Saba Garmaroudi.
The semi-professional league also handed out penalties to Division 2 booters, particularly those involved in the fight-marred Agila-Cimarron match last March 2.
Cimarron’s Miguel Alberto Gutierrez and Agila’s Zaldy Marañon Jr. have been suspended for at least three matches for punching and kicking Agila’s Alejandro Veliz received a five-match suspension for leaving the bench and attacking Gutierrez.
Under article 118 (contestable decisions) of the Fifa disciplinary code, all the decisions are appealable.
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