Soccer Federation Rejects German Suspension Appeal

A today rejected a West German appeal to overturn the one-game suspension of Rudi Voeller for a red card he received in the 2-1 victory over the Netherlands on Sunday.

Voeller is barred from the World Cup quarterfinal game against Czechoslovakia next Sunday.

The world soccer federation also upheld the yellow card against Lothar Matthaeus, but the West German captain will be able to play in the quarterfinal match. It was his first yellow card of the World Cup.

“The protest has been refused,” FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said. “The decisions were taken by the referee on the pitch (field) and they cannot be changed afterwards.”

Voeller was sent off with a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct, along with Dutch defender Frank Rijkaard. Matthaeus was given a yellow card for wasting time.