Nigeria’s Ugo Njoku has been banned for three games for elbowing Australian midfielder Sam Kerr in the face during a clash at the Women’s World Cup, FIFA confirmed on Sunday.
The Nigerian defender was also fined 3 000 Swiss francs ($3 218) by world football’s governing body after video replays showed the 20-year-old making contact with Kerr’s face during the Group D clash in Winnipeg on Saturday, supersport.com reports.
Njoku’s actions floored Kerr, 21, in the second half of Australia’s 2-0 win over the Super Falcons which kept the Matildas’ World Cup campaign on track after the opening loss to the United States.
Kerr has since recovered and is expected to play in Australia’s final clash against Sweden in Edmonton on Tuesday.
“Ugo Njoku has been suspended for three matches and fined CHF 3 000 as well as being issued with a warning by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee,” the world soccer governing body said in a statement.
The player was sanctioned after disciplinary proceedings were opened for “serious infringements which have escaped the match officials’ attention,” FIFA added.
The first match of the suspension will be Nigeria’s final group game against the U.S in Vancouver on Tuesday.
Credit: TheNationOnline
