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Villas-Boas Banned For Striking Official


Zenit St. Petersburg coach Andre Villas-Boas has been suspended for six games by the Russian Football Union for striking a match official.

After Villas-Boas was sent off during a 3-1 loss at home to Krylya Sovetov Samara on August 29 in the Russian Premier League, he was caught swearing in Russian on the TV broadcast as he confronted fourth official Ivan Saraev. They also reportedly appeared to butt heads in an incident that was not shown on TV.

However, disciplinary commission head Artur Grigoryants said on September 3 that Villas-Boas "left his technical area and hit the fourth official in the chest."

Villas-Boas has previously coached Chelsea and Tottenham in the English Premier League.

Based on reporting by TASS and AP

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

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