Ajax duo floored by ban
Friday, May 2, 2003
Article summary
AFC Ajax's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristian Chivu have been suspended following the cup defeat by Feyenoord.
Article body
Lengthy bans
Swedish international Ibrahimovic picked up a six-match ban - one of which is provisional - from the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) for elbowing Gerard de Nooijer. Romanian captain Chivu was handed a three-match ban for aiming a blow at an opponent although he did not make contact. The pair were convicted on television evidence since referee Roelof Luinge missed both offences.
Right of appeal
Feyenoord's Pierre van Hooijdonk was also suspended for three games - one of them provisional - following his red card for kicking Ajax's Jelle van Damme during the match at the Feijenoord stadium on 16 April. All three players have the right of appeal and Feyenoord have said they will contest the Van Hooijdonk decision.
Ibrahimovic's season over
Because of the appeal process, Van Hooijdonk is free to play for Feyenoord away to FC Utrecht on Sunday. Ibrahimovic has already served one game of his ban, against AZ Alkmaar last weekend, and will not be available until the final match of the season against SC Heerenveen.
Championship race
Feyenoord won the tie 1-0 to set up a final date with FC Utrecht, conquerors of PSV Eindhoven in the other semi-final. The sanctions could affect both teams' chances of securing second position in the Dutch First Division and entry into next season's UEFA Champions League. A point currently separates Ajax, in second place, from Feyenoord in third.
