MCCARTHY GIVEN TWO MATCH FIFA BAN
CELTA VIGO'S South African striker Benni McCarthy has been given a two match international ban by Fifa for his role in a fatal stampede during a World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe.
The Aston Villa target was also fined in addition to his ban for 'provocative behaviour' the South African Football Federation revealed.
An 83rd minute goal had given South Africa a 2-0 lead and McCarthy's celebrations after the goal caused Zimbabwean supporters to surge forward and throw objects at McCarthy and goalscorer Delron Buckley.
This resulted in police in Harare's National sports stadium to fire tear gas into the crowd which caused the stampeded that left 13 people dead.
The match was abandoned as a result of the incident and a decision over whether it should be replayed is expected in early December when the World Cup organising committee meet in Rome.
McCarthy's celebrations, mirroring Thierry Henry's whispering one, means he will miss World Cup qualifying games against Burkina Faso and Malawi in 2001.
