Olivier Occean hit with six-match ban by FIFA

FIFA announced Monday that it has suspended Canadian international striker Olivier Occean for six games following an incident in a World Cup Qualifying match against Cuba played on Oct. 12, 2012.

The 31-year-old forward received a red card for a goalmouth scuffle involving Occean and several Cuban players immediately after Will Johnson had scored Canada's second goal in a 3-0 victory at Toronto's BMO Field.

Occean had attempted to retrieve the ball from inside the Cuban goal after Johnson's 73rd minute strike, leading to an altercation that ultimately saw the Canadian striker shown red. FIFA's Disciplinary Committee said that Occean committed "an act of unsporting conduct" and displayed "several acts of unsporting behaviour and using offensive language towards match officials" in the immediate aftermath of the goalmouth confrontation, leading the governing body to hand down the suspension.

As Occean had already served a one-game red card suspension in Canada's ill-fated 8-1 loss at Honduras on Oct. 16, FIFA has added five additional matches to the striker's punishment. He will have to serve those games during Canada's next official competitve matches, set to take place during the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.

In addition to the suspension, which according to FIFA is not yet final and binding, Occean will have to pay a fine of 1,750 Swiss francs.