Chile´s Valdivia to fight 10-match ban

Chilean playmaker Jorge Valdivia has appealed against his 10-game ban from the national team.

Valdivia and team-mates Arturo Vidal, Jean Beausejour, Gonzalo Jara and Carlos Carmona were suspended by Chile’s national football governing body, ANFP, after a disciplinary hearing.

The five players had arrived late to the team hotel before Chile’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in November after partying late into the night celebrating the baptism of Valdivia’s child.

The Palmeiras midfielder is the only member of the ‘Baptism Five’ – as they have been dubbed by the press – to dispute the ANFP ruling.

The five players will miss eight more games for the Chilean national team, including the two World Cup qualifiers they have already missed.

According to Triunfo, Valdivia has lodged an official appeal against the ban through his lawyer Wilfredo Sequeira.

Valdivia’s appeal is expected to be heard by the ANFP’s disciplinary committee. No statement has been given by either Valdivia or his lawyer.