FIFA bans Cameroon’s Song for 3 matches

Referee Pedro Proenca from Portugal gives a red card to Cameroon's Alex Song as Croatia's Ivan Rakitic looks on during the group A World Cup soccer match between Cameroon and Croatia. Themba Hadebe/AP

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — FIFA has banned Cameroon midfielder Alex Song for three games for elbowing Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic in the back during a 4-0 loss on Wednesday.

Song was already automatically suspended for Cameroon’s final Group A match against Brazil on Monday.

FIFA says Song will complete his ban in Cameroon’s next two official matches. After Cameroon’s almost certain World Cup elimination Monday, it plays 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September against Ivory Coast and Congo.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee also fined the Barcelona midfielder 20,000 Swiss francs ($22,300).

Song was sent off in the 40th minute when Croatia led 1-0.

2014 FIFA World Cup: Sportsnet.ca is your home for in-depth coverage of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. TV viewers can watch all 64 games on CBC and Sportsnet from June 12 to July 13. Be sure to watch Connected every night on Sportsnet for all of the latest news and analysis. And check out Sportsnet magazine’s team profiles of all 32 nations.

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.