Colin Hendry is currently awaiting a decision from FIFA as to whether or not he will face disciplinary action over Wednesday evening’s clash with San Marino’s nineteen-year-old substitute Nicola Albani. Albani who was discharged from hospital yesterday declined to press charges and referee Petteri Kari of Finland didn’t take any action against Hendry at the time.
Match Commissioner Heinz-Herbert Kreh has drawn FIFA’s attention to the elbowing incident. However a spokesman for the football governing body has confirmed that they will await the referee’s match report before taking any action.
Thirty-five-year-old Hendry, who has since apologised for the retaliation, has been backed by Scottish coach Craig Brown, who claimed it was out of character. Hendry will be hoping that he will be treated more leniently than Italy’s Mauro Tasotti, who received an eight-match ban after the 1994 World Cup Finals for a similar assault on Spain’s Luis Enrique. A similar punishment would cast doubt on Hendry’s international future.
(PA)
Filed by Seán McDonagh
