Blazevic cleared of touchline ban
Thursday, 8 November 2001Iran's World Cup hopes received a major boost today when the threat of a touchline ban against coach Miroslav Blazevic for the two legs of the play-off against the Republic of Ireland was lifted. Blazevic was sent to the stand by referee Carlos Batres Gonzalez for entering the pitch during the stormy 3-1 defeat in Bahrain on October 21. The Bosnian was banned from the technical area for the second leg of Iran's Asian play-off against the United Arab Emirates last week but FIFA announced today that no further action will be taken against him.
Meanwhile, there was further good news for Iran's supporters when FIFA also decided not to increase the suspensions of Alireza Vahedinikbakht and Sirous Dinmohammadi. Dinmohammadi and Vahedinikbakht were both sent off in Bahrain and served out a ban over both legs of the play-off against the United Arab Emirates but both are now eligible for Saturday's play-off at Lansdowne Road.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
