CAS cancels Pizarro fine imposed by Peru federation

CAS cancels Pizarro fine imposed by Peru federationLausanne, Switzerland  - The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday cancelled a fine of 10,000 dollars imposed on Peru striker Claudio Pizarro by his nation's football federation (PFF) for allegedly misbehaving after a 2007 match with Brazil.

The CAS said in a statement that "the facts put forward by the PFF in relation to Pizarro were not supported by concrete evidence" and added that "the incidents reported by the PFF were not dealt with either in the PFF regulations, or in the FIFA regulations."

Pizarro and other players reportedly misbehaved in the team hotel after the World Cup qualifier with Brazil in November 2007 in Lima.

Pizarro was banned for 18 months from the team and fined 80,000 dollars by the PFF before the sanctions were reduced on appeal to a three-month ban and 10,000-dollar fine.

Pizarro appealed again before CAS in July 2008, protesting his innocence. The CAS judges only looked into the fine as he has already served the ban (but has not been recalled into the team since).

The CAS news was a welcome break for Pizarro who faces a tax evasion probe in his home country in connection with alleged wrongdoings of his manager.

Pizarro is under contract at English club Chelsea, but currently on loan at his former side Werder Bremen. Pizarro scored the final goal in a 3-3 draw at Italy's Udinese on Thursday night to reach the UEFA Cup semi-finals.(dpa)