Mexican soccer player suspended for coughing, spitting gestures
Swine flu outbreak confirmed to have killed more than 20 people in Mexico
Chivas defender Hector Reynoso has been suspended from the Copa Libertadores for pretending to cough and spit in an opponent's face, gestures interpreted as threatening to spread swine flu.
The length of the suspension was not immediately clear.
South America's football governing body, CONMEBOL, said Monday that Reynoso had 72 hours to appeal the decision, which was made after watching the incident on video and reading print accounts.
The swine flu outbreak is confirmed to have killed more than 20 people in Mexico.
The Mexican coughed several times in the face of Sebastian Penco — an Argentine playing for Chilean club Everton — in a Copa Libertadores match last week.
He later apologized, but said he expected to be punished for his behaviour.
Two Mexican clubs, San Luis and Chivas of Guadalajara, have had their first-leg matches in the final 16 of the Copa Libertadores delayed by a week as officials monitor the swine flu outbreak in the country. Visiting clubs do not want to play in Mexico.