Figo cleared for England showdown

Luis Figo can play in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against England after Fifa ruled out further action for a headbutt on Holland's Mark van Bommel.

The Portugal skipper was booked and, because referee Valentin Ivanov took action, Fifa will not intervene.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari also hopes that midfielder Deco will be available.

He was sent off for two yellow cards in the 1-0 win but Scolari has urged the Portuguese Football Federation to appeal against the first booking.

The 28-year-old went into the book for a lunge at Holland defender John Heitinga after Holland had refused to give the ball back, despite Portugal kicking it out of play because of an injury.

And Scolari said: "The Federation could send a letter to Fifa because of the first yellow card.
"The ball was ours, we had possession but the Dutch player was told by his coach to continue playing.

"There should be fair-play guidelines from Fifa and the time has come for them to think about this."

The return of Deco, as well as Figo's reprieve, would be a massive boost for Portugal.
It had been suggested that Fifa could upgrade Figo's yellow card to a red for his deliberate headbutt on Van Bommel, potentially leading to a one-match ban that would have ruled him out of the game in Gelsenkirchen.

But Fifa communications director Markus Siegler said: "He was sanctioned immediately by the referee at the time.

"The referee's report is being analysed but it is very unlikely anything will happen as he has been sanctioned."

Van Bommel, commenting on the incident, had said: "Figo headbutted me and that is not a yellow card. I blame the referee, it was a clear red card."

But Siegler said: "It is only where there is a clear disciplinary issue, which has not been acted upon by the referee, that the disciplinary committee can look at it."

Figo was later involved in more controversy when his tangle with Khalid Boulahrouz led to the Holland defender being dismissed for a second yellow card.

However, Scolari defended Figo, saying: "Jesus said we should turn the other cheek. Unfortunately, Figo is not Jesus Christ."

Meanwhile, the coach also confirmed he would not appeal against Costinha's red card.

From : BBC