Colombia's Cardona banned for five games for racist gesture
The Boca Juniors midfielder was caught on camera taunting South Korea players during a 2-1 friendly loss in November.
Colombia midfielder Edwin Cardona has been suspended for five matches by FIFA for making a racist gesture with his eyes towards South Korean players last month.
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee said Cardona had made a "discriminatory gesture" in the November 10, 2-1 friendly loss to the South Koreans.
FIFA said the suspension would be "served during the upcoming friendly matches of the Colombian representative team" and includes a stadium ban for those five matches and a fine of 20,000 Swiss Francs.
World Cup place in doubt for Cardona
Cardona, who plays club football in Argentina for Boca Juniors, could still be sanctioned when the World Cup starts with Colombia so far having announced only one friendly match, against France, during the next international break in France.
Colombia have been drawn in Group H with Poland, Senegal and Japan.
Immediately after the game against South Korea, Cardona apologized for his actions in a video published on the Colombia Football Federation website. “It was not my intention to show a lack of respect to anyone, or a country or race, but if anyone feels offended or have interpreted it that way I can only apologise a thousand times. I am not a person who seeks conflict and I’m sorry that a situation during the game has been misinterpreted in this way.”