Figo free to play against England despite head-butt

BERLIN, June 26 (Reuters) Portugal captain Luis Figo is free to play against England in the World Cup quarter-finals after FIFA said they would not upgrade the yellow card he received for a head-butt against the Netherlands to a red.

Although Russian referee Valentin Ivanov missed the incident in yesterday's match when the Portugal winger head-butted Mark van Bommel, one of his assistants alerted him to Figo's misdemeanour and the referee duly yellow carded him.

When asked today whether FIFA would review the incident and impose a tougher sanction, director of communications Markus Siegler said the yellow card would not be altered.

''He was sanctioned immediately by the referee at the time.

The referee's report came in last night and has been analysed by the relevant people but it is very unlikely anything will happen as he has been sanctioned already.

''It is only where there is a clear disciplinary issue which has not been acted upon by the referee that the committee can look at it.'' Four players were dismissed while Figo was among eight other players booked in the second round match in Nuremberg, which the Portuguese won 1-0 to set up a quarter-final against England in Gelsenkirchen next Saturday.

Reuters PDS VP1632