Newcastle's Alan Shearer could face a possible three-match Champions League ban after being charged by UEFA today with violent conduct for allegedly elbowing Inter Milan's Fabio Cannavaro. Shearer was captured by television cameras swinging an elbow at the Italian international defender. The blow appeared to catch Cannavaro on the back of the head but the Magpies skipper escaped any action from referee Stephane Bre.
However, after viewing video evidence of the match at St James' Park, UEFA's disciplinary chiefs have charged Shearer and will hold a special meeting tomorrow to deliver a verdict and decide on any punishment. UEFA's usual punishment for violent conduct is a three-match ban but if they find Shearer guilty he may escape with a two-game suspension if it was felt he was provoked by the Italian holding him.
A UEFA spokesman told the Press Association: Disciplinary proceedings have been instigated against Alan Shearer on the basis of video evidence and he has been charged with violent conduct. A decision will be made on the case by UEFA's control and disciplinary commission tomorrow afternoon. Newcastle, who lost the game 4-1, had had Craig Bellamy sent off before the incident for tangling with Marco Materazzi and manager Bobby Robson now faces the prospect of playing his former club Barcelona with both his first-choice strikers suspended.
Shearer claims he was just trying to free himself from Cannavaro. He said. "Their player was holding me and he would not let me go. I had to try to get away. He was given a yellow card early on and, on another day, he might have got another for persistent fouling. But that's what you get when you play the Italians."
As for Bellamy, he has already served one three-match ban in Europe this season after being convicted of head-butting Dynamo Kiev defender Tiberiu Ghioane on video evidence. His case will be discussed on December 17 and, as a repeat offender, he faces the possibility of being banned for even longer than three games.
Filed by Shane Murray
