FIFA, International Footballs governing body, have suspended the Netherlands' influential midfielder Phillip Cocu for the next two World Cup Europe Zone qualifying matches. The decision was made after a FIFA meeting on Monday. The ban for Cocu comes into immediate effect, and cannot be appealed against.

This will mean that Cocu will be absent for the Netherlands' last two World Cup qualifying matches against the Czech Republic and Macedonia early next month.

Cocu, who currently plays his club football for Dutch Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven, was sent off for elbowing an opponent during the Netherlands' 4-0 home win over Andorra on the 7th of September.

The absence of the hugely experienced player will be good news for the Czech Republic, who are currently 4 points behind the Netherlands in Group 1 of the European Qualifying Zone, and are looking to overtake the Dutch into top spot, and so automatic qualification for the finals next summer in Germany.

The Dutch currently lead Group 1 with 28 points, four more than the second-placed Czech Republic, who are due to meet the Netherlands in Prague on Saturday the 8th of October. The Dutch then go on to play Macedonia at home in Amsterdam on October the 12th, in their final match of the group stages.

The Netherlands Coach Marco van Basten, names his squad for the upcoming qualifiers this Friday, and is widely expected to recall the newly signed Tottenham Hotspur FC's midfielder Edgar Davids, who will return to the squad after his absence in the Netherlands squad for their last qualifying match against Andorra.

(© 2005 worldcuplatest.com)

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