Giggs banned for two matches

Ryan Giggs will miss the opening two matches of Wales' 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign after being found guilty of misconduct by UEFA.

The Manchester United midfielder appeared to elbow Russian full-back Vadim Evseev during the Euro 2004 play-off match in Moscow on November 15.

The Russian Football Union (RFU) rushed a video of the incident to UEFA with a view to having Giggs banned for the second leg in Cardiff four days later.

While that immediate suspension did not materialise and the RFU subsequently withdrew their complaint, UEFA still heard the case, along with a number of disciplinary matters, in Nyon yesterday.

And today, a brief statement from Europe's governing body on their website, www.uefa.com, read: "Wales' Ryan Giggs was suspended for two matches for elbowing a Russian opponent during the Euro 2004 play-off match that took place in Moscow on November 15."

It is unclear whether there are any grounds for Wales to launch an appeal against the suspension, but the timing of the announcement could have been better, with boss Mark Hughes' set to learn which countries his men will face in the World Cup qualifiers at the draw in Frankfurt later today.

The Football Association of Wales, meanwhile, have always insisted Giggs was heavily provoked beforehand and that he made minimal contact with the Russian, whose goal in the second leg in Cardiff settled the tie.

"We will be very disappointed if Ryan Giggs is suspended," FAW general secretary David Collins said yesterday.

"We think very much that the Russian player was guilty of gross simulation. From our point of view, we hope he will survive to play for us again in the 2006 qualifiers."

Earlier this week Giggs was fined £7,500 by the Football Association for his part in the fracas after the Barclaycard Premiership game against Arsenal at Old Trafford on September 21.

Giggs and United are still considering whether to appeal against that punishment.