Swedish FA panel to meet on Larsson incident

STOCKHOLM, Aug 21 (Reuters) Helsingborg striker Henrik Larsson could face a ban after appearing to punch an opponent in a Swedish Cup quarter-final at the weekend.

A spokesman for the Swedish soccer association said its disciplinary committee will meet on Friday to discuss the incident.

''They (the committee) will decide if there is any penalty (for Larsson),'' he said. ''It depends on how they react to the situation and what they see in the TV pictures.'' Such penalties can include match bans, he said.

Television on Saturday showed the former Barcelona and Celtic striker, who retired from the international stage after last month's World Cup finals, giving what seemed to be a jab to the midriff of Elfsborg defender Jon Jonsson.

The Swede has said the blow was not serious and that he was trying to push Jonsson away. Jonsson did not continue the game.

The soccer assocation said it had reported the incident to the disciplinary committee after the referee missed it during the game, a quarter final cup match which Helsingborg won on penalties after a 4-4 tie after extra time.

A prosecutor in Malmo in south Sweden has also said that the incident should be looked into, according to local media.

Reuters DH RN2120