Guadalajara defender Hector Reynoso has been suspended for the remainder of the Liberatadores Cup after pretending coughing, spitting and expelling nasal mucus at a Everton Chile player Sebastian Penco during a game and then claiming that he was infected with swine flu.
The South American Football Federation issued the following statement:
Reynoso, following an incident in the game, reacted by spitting at Everton player Sebastian Penco and then releasing nasal secreations at the face of the player. This situation, lamentable in its own right, was aggravated by the risk of a possible infection of the disease AH1N1.
The Guadalajara players complained that their Chilean opponents had taunted them throughout the match about the disease and that members of the public who encountered them in a shopping center “covered their mouths, ran away, laughed or made remarks about being contaminated”.
Reynoso has said that he has since apologized to Penco and that the apology has been accepted. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. [Metro]
