WORLD CUP USA ‘94: SEMIFINALS : Breaking Nose of Spain’s Enrique Costs Italy’s Tassotti Eight Games

FIFA went to the videotape Monday and slapped an eight-game suspension on Italy’s Mauro Tassotti for an elbow that broke a Spanish player’s nose during a World Cup quarterfinal.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee said Tassotti’s action against Luis Enrique in the closing moments of a 2-1 Italian victory Saturday was “intentional serious violent conduct.”

The eight-game ban means Italy will be without two starters for Wednesday’s semifinal against Bulgaria. Gianfranco Zola is completing a two-game suspension for a red card in a second-round victory over Nigeria.

But Tassotti will sit for a while longer. He will be benched if Italy reaches the World Cup final, plus at least Italy’s first six games in preliminary rounds of the European Championship.

In addition to the suspension, twice the longest previous ban imposed during the World Cup, Tassotti was fined $16,000.