Soccer: De Boer hit by FIFA ban

Dutch skipper Frank de Boer has been banned by FIFA for one year following his failed drugs tests, according to the player’s lawyer.

De Boer now looks set to miss his country’s World Cup campaign after football’s world governing body followed the lead of UEFA by suspending the Barcelona defender.

Lawyer Cor Hellingman said: ‘‘They informed us about the suspension in the form of an unimportant notification.’’

Hellingman claimed FIFA should have waited until the outcome of De Boer’s hearing on July 26 before imposing any possible ban.

De Boer’s hearing is expected to last up to five weeks, meaning even if it is eventually successful he could now miss the World Cup clash against Republic of Ireland on September 1.

The 31-year-old’s international team-mate Edgar Davids and Portugal captain Fernando Couto have also been banned by FIFA following positive tests for nandrolone.