FIFA suspends Pinto

Portugal forward Joao Pinto has been suspended from "all match activity" until FIFA make a decision on his punishment for punching Argentine...

Portugal forward Joao Pinto has been suspended from 8220;all match activity8221; until FIFA make a decision on his punishment for punching Argentine referee Angel Sanchez during a stormy World Cup game with South Korea.

FIFA said it had its own video of the incident which formed a key part of Tuesday8217;s disciplinary committee meeting involving Sanchez. Pinto could be banned and sanctions could also be taken against Portugal captain Fernando Couto who manhandled the referee after he showed the red card.

A FIFA statement did not say when it expected the committee to make a decision, but added that the committee had asked for additional information. Portugal have already been eliminated so the provisional suspension has only symbolic effect. 8220;The evidence already in possession of FIFA, i.e. the reports submitted by the referee of the match, the match commissary and the referee inspector indicate that Pinto, when shown the red card, punched referee Angel Sanchez of Argentina in the stomach,8221; the statement said.

8220;The act of hitting a referee is considered to be a serious violation of the Disciplinary Code. 8220;Given the serious nature of the offence of which the player is accused and in order to take a decision in full cognizance of all facts, the Disciplinary Committee has already requested8230;additional information.8221;

Raul misses training

Ulsan South Korea: Raul and David Albelda both missed training again on Tuesday ahead of Spain8217;s World Cup quarter-final against South Korea or Italy on Saturday.

Both players were injured during the side8217;s penalty shootoutvictory over Ireland in the second round and are doubtful for the quarter-final in Kwangju. The good news for coach Jose Antonio Camacho was the return to full training of midfielder Luis Enrique, who also took a knock in the Ireland game.

Spain8217;s quarter-final kicks off at 1530 hrs local time and as from Wednesday Spain will shift their main training session of the day to that time in order to get used to the fierce early afternoon heat. Spain have played all their matches in the evening so far, three at 2030 hrs and one at 1800 hrs, and they are clearly concerned about the change in kick-off time.

Germany will wear black arm bands for Walter

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Seoul: Germany will wear black armbands in Friday8217;s quarter-final against the United States following the death of former captain Fritz Walter. Walter died on Monday aged 81.

He led Germany to their first World Cup success in 1954 and was one of his country8217;s three honorary captains along with Uwe Seeler and Franz Beckenbauer.