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KNVB issues suspensions for Wamberto and Yakubu

04 April: The KNVB disciplinary committee has imposed a four game suspension on left winger Wamberto. The Brazilian Ajacied was sent off in the last minute of Vitesse vs Ajax, last Sunday. The league also issued a one-game suspension for Abubakari Yakubu, in response to his double-yellow cards in yesterday's clash with Groningen.

Wamberto's red card, given by referee Ruud Bossen, was an obvious case. Frustrated by Ajax' 3-1 defeat, Wamberto - usually the epitome of friendliness - kicked Victor Sikora in the groin, after the Vitesse forward had fouled him. The Brazilian immediately apologized to Sikora for his fit of temper. He accepted his red card without any protest.

Yesterday's home game against FC Groningen was the first game of Wamberto's suspension. He is to miss the league games against Sparta (away, 14 April) and FC Utrecht (at home, 21 April), as well as next week's Amstel Cup semi final clash with PSV (at home, 10 April).

Yakubu was also suspended by the KNVB, albeit for only one game. The Ghanaian midfielder played as a central defender in yesterday's home game against FC Groningen and was sent off one minute before the end with a second yellow card.

Several Dutch media announced that Yakubu will be suspended for the Amstel Cup semi final against PSV (10 April. A review of the KNVB regulations showed that this is not the case. Suspensions for red cards, directly given, apply to all official KNVB games: Eredivisie and First Division, as well as Amstel Cup and Johan Cruijff Shield (= Dutch Super Cup).

However, a suspension based on accumulated yellow cards in the Eredivisie is always a suspension for one league game. Yakubu is therefore available for the Amstel Cup game against PSV, but is to miss Sunday's league game at Sparta. (MP)

(Source: Ajax.nl)