Fernando Santos has suspension slashed

Fernando Santos has suspension slashed

FIFA ban reduced from 8 to 2 matches

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that the 8-match suspension of Portugal coach Fernando Santos be reduced to just two games.

As such, Santos will sit out only the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Serbia on Sunday and against Armenia on 13 June, but will then be free to take his place on the bench for the rest of the qualifying campaign.

The reduction will come as a huge relief to Santos and even more so to the Portuguese Football Federation, who were heavily criticised in some quarters for appointing the experienced coach in the knowledge he had an 8-game ban hanging over him. 

Both parties said from the outset they were confident the suspension would be reduced, considering it completely disproportional to the "crime" committed.

FIFA imposed the ban for inappropriate language used towards the referee at the 2014 World Cup when, as Greece manager, he was not happy with the officiating in the Greece-Costa Rica last-16 match.

CAS ruled that his conduct was indeed inappropriate, but it did not justify a suspension of eight competitive matches. 

 

Related: Fernando Santos announces Portugal squad for Serbia clash