Fifa ask FA to review Taylor's ban

Updated 12.10 Thu Mar 20 2008

Keywords: birmingham city, arsenal, martin taylor, sepp blatter, fifa, football association, football, sport

Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor could find his three-match ban for a leg-breaking tackle on Arsenal striker Eduardo extended to nine months.

Taylor has served his suspension for the red card he was shown breaking Eduardo's leg and dislocating the player's ankle.

Fifa have asked the Football Association to "once again review the incident in detail and reconsider the sanction"

He played for Birmingham's reserves on Tuesday and seemed poised to return to the first team against Reading this weekend.

But Fifa have asked the Football Association to "once again review the incident in detail and reconsider the sanction".

The FA have argued they cannot extend Taylor's ban unless they have proof that he intended to cause injury. Most observers believe the tackle was not malicious and Eduardo has accepted an apology from Taylor.

However, Fifa president Sepp Blatter wants to consider a ban that is equal to Eduardo's spell on the sidelines.

Blatter said recently: "We are considering a number of options but one we could consider is if a player is out injured for nine months, then the player who has caused him that injury also cannot play again until his victim has recovered."