Rajkovic banned 1 year for spitting at referee
The Associated Press
Published: September 5, 2008


ZURICH, Switzerland: Chelsea defender Slobodan Rajkovic has been suspended from all football for 12 months after spitting at a referee while playing for Serbia at the Olympics, FIFA said Friday.
The 19-year-old Rajkovic spat at referee Abdullah Al Hilali of Oman after the Aug. 13 group stage match against Argentina in Beijing. Serbia lost 2-0 and were eliminated from the competition.
FIFA said its disciplinary committee met Monday and imposed a one-year ban on Rajkovic playing at any level of football. He can appeal the decision.
Chelsea paid a €5.2 million fee to sign Rajkovic from Serbian club OFK Beograd in November 2005.
He has never played a first-team match for the London club and was loaned to Dutch side FC Twente for the current season, playing against Arsenal in its Champions League qualifying round defeat last month.