RIO DE JANEIRO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Luis Fabiano has been handed a four-match Copa Libertadores ban and fined 5,000 US dollars for using abusive language to a referee, South American football's governing body Conmebol said on Friday.
The Brazil international striker was shown a straight red card for his verbal confrontation with referee Wilmer Roldan after the final whistle of Sao Paulo's 1-1 draw with Arsenal de Sarandi on March 7.
Sao Paulo has seven days to appeal the decision, Conmebol said in a statement on its official website.
"The disciplinary tribunal has imposed the sanction on the athlete for making serious insults towards the match referee," the statement said.
Fabiano, 32, will miss Sao Paulo's fixtures against The Strongest and Atletico Mineiro in addition to the first knockout phase match, should the Brazilian club progress beyond the group stage.
The Copa Libertadores, which comprises the top sides from South America and Mexico, is the continent's leading club competition.