Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva’s two-match Champions League ban for diving was overturned by UEFA.
An independent appeals panel for European football’s governing body uphold an appeal that was presented in person by Eduardo and Arsenal’s lawyers.
UEFA said it looked at video evidence and considered the match referee’s opinion before siding with the Croatia forward.
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“It was not established to the panel’s satisfaction that the referee had been deceived in taking his decision on the penalty,” UEFA said in a statement.
Eduardo is now clear to play in Arsenal’s opening group stage match at Standard Liege on Wednesday and the home match against Olympiakos on September 29.
UEFA’s disciplinary panel ruled on September 1 that Eduardo dived when winning a penalty in a qualifying match against Celtic last month.
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Eduardo fell after a challenge from goalkeeper Artur Boruc and then scored from the penalty spot. Arsenal went on to win the second leg match 3-1, advancing 5-1 on aggregate.
The incident provoked a media storm after the Scottish Football Association, representing Celtic, urged UEFA to study video evidence.
Arsenal said the disciplinary panel had delivered a “deeply flawed” ruling after failing to review the pictures thoroughly.
The club also argued that Eduardo, who broke his leg in February 2008, took evasive action to avoid a repeat of the serious injury that had sidelined him for a year.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described UEFA’s pursuit of his player as a “witch hunt,” while England fans targeted him for verbal abuse during a World Cup qualifier against Croatia last week.