Not sure if this is true, but Portugal may be in bigger trouble than we thought

An email I received:

Email 1:

Nice to know. If Portugal receive one more player with a yellow card, they may forfeit their place in the semis and England would go through anyway.

There seems to be a limit on the number of yellows a team can be given before they are all suspended.

So, against England, if they leave Figo's card as yellow (it may be increased to red as it was for a head butt), they'll have 5 players on yellow cards and Deco and Costinha out.

Like I say, Figo might be out aswell.

COME ON ENGLAND!!!

Email 2:

Ok,

Looking at the Fifa disciplinary rules, it looks like Portugal came under the 'team misconduct' rule. Figo also comes under the Physical Assault rule in Article 48. He might have a two match ban after that head butt.

Oh, and it's article 53 for the team stuff. In order to suffer from that, you have to:
a)have four players cautioned in a match (tick)
b)have three players sent off in a match (half tick)
c)have several players together make threats or show force against a match official (tick and double tick)

So they're on thin ice.

23 players, including 3 goalkeepers. Definite suspension against England for Costinha and Deco... also, and this may surprise your Portuguese friend, Maniche and Valente may also be suspended. Maniche's yellow from the last game in the last round DOES get carried forward... but I don't know where Valente's other yellow came from so I'm dubious about that reported suspension.

Anyway, so there may be a total of 4 Portuguese players ruled out even if Figo's head butt is not upgraded. Right, let's do some maths.

23 players, remove the three goalkeepers, 20 players, remove the four suspended, 16 players, remove Figo, 15 players, leave the remaining yellow carded players out of the starting 11- Petit and Ricardo and you have a squad of 14 (not counting Ricardo out as he's a goalie). And of course, let's not forget, Gomes, Boa Morte and Miguel all had cards from the last group game which are carried forward.

No matter what happens, Portugal have only 2 goalkeepers and 11 players who don't risk too much by being on the pitch. Not exactly Scolari's first 11.

Not even enough to put together an effective team plus reserves. However, they'll just have to take the chance against England. I think if Maniche and Valente are both out (as has been reported) and if Figo's head butt is upgraded as it should be to a two match ban, then they'll have all the rest in there to start. Still a strong squad, but one which has to be very careful indeed.

:-)

Posted By: Steve in Holland, Jun 26, 10:40:42