Portugal's Joao Pinto trudges off. (Allsport)
PORTUGAL'S PINTO SUSPENDED
FIFA have suspended Portugal striker Joao Pinto from competitive football until October 17 for punching referee Angel Sanchez during the World Cup.
The Sporting Lisbon star was sent off in the first half of Portugal's final group match for a crude challenge on South Korea's Park-Ji Sung.
The referee claimed he was hit in the stomach immediately afterwards by the forward.
World football's governing body have also ordered the player to pay a £22,000 fine and a further £6,500 in costs.
A suspended two-month ban will also hang over the 30-year-old for one year.
The incident occurred on June 14 as Portugal lost 1-0 to South Korea and failed to make it through to the second phase.
A FIFA statement read: "The act of hitting a referee is considered to be a serious violation of the disciplinary code."
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