FIFA Bans Former Greece Coach for Eight Matches

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has banned former Greece coach Fernando Santos for eight international matches for verbally abusing officials during his team's World Cup elimination match against Costa Rica.

FIFA said Monday that Santos displayed "several acts of unsporting conduct" and was banished from the dugout after extra time in the second-round match. Greece then lost the penalty shootout. FIFA says Santos must the serve the ban in official competitive matches played by the next national team he coaches.

The sanction likely ends the Portuguese coach's international career. His Greece contract expired after the World Cup in Brazil. FIFA says its disciplinary committee also suspended Italy medical official Aldo Esposito for six matches. Esposito was sent from the dugout for unsporting conduct during Italy's 1-0 loss against Uruguay.