ZURICH (AP) — Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was suspended for two World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday for making an offensive gesture at a referee during a match.
FIFA said Hitzfeld breached rules on "offensive behavior" during a home qualifier against Norway on Oct. 12.
The veteran German coach is barred from working at Group E leader Switzerland's next two qualifiers, which are both against last-place Cyprus.
FIFA ordered Hitzfeld to pay a 7,000 Swiss francs ($7,450) fine plus 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,060) in costs for the disciplinary process.
Swiss media published images of Hitzfeld making a hand gesture at Spanish referee David Fernandez Borbalan.during the first half of a 1-1 tie against Norway in Bern.
