Algerian goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi has been banned for three matches by CAF's disciplinary committee for head-butting the referee during his side's 4-0 defeat to Egypt in the African Cup of Nations (ACN) last January, the local media reported on Saturday. Eventual champions Egypt routed Algeria in the semi-finals after making the most of their numerical advantage. Chaouchi was one of three Algerian players who were sent off in the game, but he initially escaped a red card despite appearing to head-butt Benin referee Coffi Codjia. Codjia was suspended indefinitely for failing to take action against the 25-year-older. “Faouzi Chaouchi has been suspended for three matches and handed a $10,000 fine,” the Algerian Football Federation (AFF) said in a statement on their official website Friday night. Left-back Nadir Belhadj, who was also sent off in the clash for a two-footed lunge on Egypt wing-back Ahmed el-Mohamadi, was suspended for two games, the AFF said. “The Algerian Football Federation has decided to appeal against these decisions,” it said. It remains to be seen whether the bans will come into effect in Algeria's World Cup campaign in South Africa in June. The Desert Foxes will play in Group C along with England, the US and Slovenia. They will face Slovenia in their first game on June 13. Algeria's defender Rafik Heliche, meanwhile, has been banned for a game.
