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FOOTBALL

De Rossi gets four-game suspension

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De Rossi's red card would keep him out until the final.

SPECIAL REPORT

DUISBURG, Germany -- Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi has been suspended for four matches at the World Cup after being sent off for elbowing U.S. striker Brian McBride last week.

"FIFA told us they gave him a four-match ban rather than a five-match ban because they appreciated the letter De Rossi wrote apologizing for his actions," said an Italian Football Federation spokesman.

The four-game suspension included Thursday's final Group E match against Czech Republic, meaning De Rossi would be available for the final if Italy get that far in the tournament.

United States defender Pablo Mastroeni received a three-match ban after being sent off at the end of the first half of the same match after a late two-footed tackle on Andrea Pirlo.

De Rossi was also fined $8,000 while Mastroeni was fined $6,000. The Italians face Australia in the last 16 on Monday.

Italy and the U.S. drew a rugged encounter 1-1. De Rossi was dismissed in the 28th minute for a blatant elbow on McBride right in front of referee Jorge Larrionda.

The American was left with blood all over his face and needed three stitches under his left eye.

Serbia and Montenegro striker Mateja Kezman will be suspended for the first match of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign after his red card in the World Cup.

Kezman was given a two-match ban by the FIFA disciplinary committee after he was sent off for a lunging, two-footed challenge on Javier Mascherano in Argentina's 6-0 Group C romp on June 21.

The Atletico Madrid player, who failed to make the grade at Chelsea, sat out the match against Ivory Coast and so will only now be suspended for his country's first Euro 2008 qualification match on September 2 against Azerbaijan.

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