Arsenal's Eduardo handed two-match ban by UEFA

Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva has been handed a two-match ban for deceiving the referee in last week's Champions League play-off against Arsenal, UEFA said on Tuesday.

Arsenal have three days to appeal against the punishment for the Brazilian-born Croatian international, UEFA said in a statement.

Eduardo went down in the Celtic game after poking the ball past goalkeeper Artur Boruc, who dived at his feet but appeared to make little or no contact with the striker.

Eduardo, who spent a year out of the game after suffering a badly broken leg in February 2008, converted the penalty himself to put Arsenal 1-0 ahead and 3-0 up on aggregate, effectively killing off Celtic's hopes of saving the tie.

The English side eventually won 3-1 for a 5-1 aggregate win.

The decision to take action against Eduardo infuriated Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who described it as disgraceful and accused UEFA of launching a witch hunt.

Eduardo will miss Arsenal's first two Group H matches away at Standard Liege on Sept. 16 and at home to Olympiakos on Sept. 29.

Croatia FA chief stands up for Eduardo

Croatia's Football Association chief Vlatko Markovic defended Eduardo da Silva on Tuesday over UEFA's charge that the Arsenal striker deceived the referee in winning a penalty against Celtic.

"Eduardo didn't fall theatrically," Markovic told Reuters. "There was some contact at first and he fell afterwards.

"Eduardo has such a light (physical) constitution that a strong gust of wind could knock him over. But Eduardo is not the type of man or player who would simulate."

UEFA opened a disciplinary case against Eduardo after the Brazilian-born Croatian went down in the area under challenge from the goalkeeper and won a penalty in Arsenal's Champions League play-off against Celtic.

Croatia are preparing for World Cup qualifiers at home to Belarus and away to England and the influential Luka Modric will miss both games after he suffered a fractured fibula playing for Tottenham Hotspur against Birmingham City on Saturday.

"There is no doubt that we are very much handicapped because Luka is our main playmaker and his absence will also be felt in the English league," Markovic said.

"But soccer is a game where all kinds of things happen and there is no doubt that it was a duel like any other.

"It is neither the first nor the last time in soccer that main players are absent for major games."

Croatia are in second place in World Cup qualifying Group Six and trail England by seven points.