Uruguay star Jose Gimenez ‘could face a 15-match ban’ as new video emerges of him elbowing FIFA’s suited director
TSB News reports that Uruguay exited the World Cup on goals scored despite 2-0 win over Ghana
Jose Gimenez could be banned for 15 games after a video appeared to show the Uruguay defender elbowing FIFA’s competition director in the back of the head after their exit from the World Cup.
Tensions were high following Uruguay’s game with Ghana, which saw the South American side exit the competition on goals scored after South Korea’s win over Portugal.
As irate players and officials from Uruguay surrounded the referee, a video has been revealed showing Atletico Madrid’s Gimenez elbowing FIFA’s competitions director in the back of the head.
Viene sanción severa para José Maria Giménez, agredido a un representante de FIFA. #PorLasQueMueres⚽️ pic.twitter.com/N5xWGk6WUK
— #PorLasQueMueres (@Salcedo_Hugo) December 3, 2022
In a later video, he was also seen targeting the match officials at the World Cup.
The 27-year-old said: ‘They [the referees] are all a bunch of thieves these sons of b***hes. Yes, record me. Son of a b***h.’
❗️ Josema Giménez after the game: “They [the referees] are all a bunch of thieves these sons of b*tches. Yes, record me. Son of a b*tch.”
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) December 2, 2022
The video rant could come with a three-game suspension, but the melee where he assaulted an official comes with a much bigger cost to his gametime.
Mundo Deportivo report that Gimenez could face a 15-game suspension, or a spell out of football for an ‘adequate’ period of time, if the incident is reported.
Elbows are listed as a form of assault, although it is not clear whether he would have to sit out 15 games for Uruguay, or if the suspension would cross over to the second half of the season with his club Atletico Madrid.
When Luis Suarez was banned for three months in 2014, FIFA issued the penalty to prevent him from lining up for his country or his club at the time, Barcelona.
The offence is also penalised with a minimum £4,343 fine (5,000 Swiss Francs), rising four-fold if it is made via mass media or social media, and Gimenez was aware he was being filmed at the time.
Uruguay felt frustrated they were not given a penalty against Ghana, and had a controversial call made against them when they lost 2-0 to group victors Portugal.