The two-game suspension to Chivas de Guadalajara central defender Jair Pereira has been upheld, Concacaf announced a few hours before the club’s second leg Champions League semifinal clash with the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena (8 pm ET | UDN, univisiondeportes; go90.com).
Pereira was banned by the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee for putting his hand around the neck of Red Bulls midfielder Sean Davis in a scrum late in Chivas' 1-0 victory in the opening leg last week.
The decision was appealed by Chivas on Monday, but the Concacaf Appeals Committee announced on Tuesday that it did not have the jurisdiction to review the case.
The Appeals Committee arrived at its determination in consideration of Article VII paragraph A.7 of the competition regulations, and Article 118, Paragraph c,) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code which states:
An appeal may be lodged with the Appeal Committee against any decision passed by the Disciplinary Committee, unless the disciplinary measure pronounced is: c) a suspension for fewer than three matches or of up to two months.
Pereira will serve the first game of the suspension in the second leg of the semifinals and the second match will apply to his next match in a Concacaf club championship.
