Australia star Tim Cahill will miss just one World Cup match after receiving a straight red card against Germany on June 13. The Everton midfielder was given his marching orders early in the second half of the 4-0 loss to Germany in Durban for a clumsy challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger and will now miss Saturday's second group stage clash with Ghana in Nelspruit.
A FIFA Disciplinary Committee today ruled that Cahill should only get the minimum suspension which was music to the ears of Football Federation Australia Head of National Teams John Boultbee.
"Tim has been given the minimum penalty available which is what we argued for in our detailed submission to FIFA over the incident," said Boultbee.
"A straight red card constitutes a minimum of a one match suspension and it is only in extreme circumstances like mistaken identity that a suspension is ever overturned.
"The committee could have decided to impose a longer suspension and we are glad that they did not deem the tackle serious enough to warrant anything further."