8 February 2007, by Tom Kundert

Derlei slapped with two-match ban; Quaresma suspension upheld

Benfica decide against appeal

New Benfica forward, Derlei, has been suspended for two matches for elbowing Boavista midfielder Grzelak in last weekend’s Bwin Liga match.

The incident was not spotted by the referee, but the Disciplinary Committee decided to act on video evidence.

As such, the former Porto and Dynamo Moscow marksman will miss Benfica’s away trips to Varzim in the Portuguese Cup and Nacional in the Bwin Liga.

Benfica have accepted the punishment while making a point of registering their “perplexity” at the “unprecedented nature of the decision”.

Quaresma ban upheld

Meanwhile Porto’s appeal against Ricardo Quaresma’s two match ban, also for a flailing elbow, has been thrown out.

The winger was sent off for the offence against Leiria a fortnight ago, and has already sat out the first match of the ban, in the defeat to Estrela da Amadora last Saturday.

Quaresma will miss Porto’s home clash against Naval and will next be in action when the Dragons host Chelsea in the hugely anticipated first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash.