Arsenal striker Eduardo has won his appeal against a two-match ban imposed by UEFA for diving in a Champions League qualifying game against Celtic.
The Croatia striker was initially suspended for allegedly diving to win a penalty in the match at the Emirates the end of August.
"I'm very pleased that we have finally arrived at the truth. All we needed to do was to prove what happened and we have managed to do that. This decision makes me feel a lot better," Eduardo said in a statement.
"All I remember of the incident is that as soon as I had possession of the ball I headed towards goal at full speed. I was very close to the Celtic keeper and felt contact on my foot and then lost my balance. I know perhaps more than anyone else that when you have contact at speed it can be dangerous.
"I just want to say that I'm a fair player. To score goals you must take your opportunities and I'm not the type of player who needs to be dishonest to score goals."
At the time of the incident Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith was quick to call for action against Eduardo and UEFA subsequently began an investigation, which Gunners boss Arsene Wenger lambasted as a "witch-hunt".
The Premier League club lodged an appeal against the ban which would have ruled the player out of the games against Standard Liege on Wednesday as well as the home match with Olympiacos in a fortnight.
"The UEFA Appeals body have accepted the appeal lodged by Arsenal FC against the two-match suspension handed to striker Eduardo," read a statement.
"Following examination of all the evidence, notably the declarations of both the referee and the referees' assessor, as well as the various video footage, it was not established to the panel's satisfaction that the referee had been deceived in taking his decision on the penalty.
"Therefore, the decision of the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body of 1 September, in which the player was suspended for two UEFA club competition matches, is annulled."
An Arsenal statement read: "We are grateful that the appeal body focused on the evidence and made the right decision in this case.
"We were able to show that there was contact between the goalkeeper and Eduardo and that the decision of the UEFA disciplinary body should be annulled.
"We fully support the drive for fair play in football and believe it is important that UEFA provide clear and comprehensive standards that will be consistently enforced going forward."
> Posted by: Iconic Magazine
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