David Beckham, ejected for kicking an opponent in England's penalty shootout loss to Argentina, was banned for two games today by Fifa.The suspension means Beckham will miss England's next two competitive matches the first two qualifying games for the 2000 European Championships.

The 23-year-old England mid-fielder was sent off for violent conduct after kicking Diego Simeone in retaliation at the start of the second half of last night's game. Fifa also fined him 5,000 Swiss francs (3300 dollars).

Craioveanu as well

: Romania's Gheorghe Craioveanu has been banned For Two matches for insulting the referee after his side's second round World Cup match with Croatia, Fifa said today.Fifa spokesman Keith Cooper said the forward, who came on as a substitute in Romania's 1-0 defeat by the Croatians on Tuesday in Bordeaux, had also been fined 5,000 Swiss Francs (about Rs 1.35 lakhs).

The ban means Craioveanu cannot play in the first two matches of Romania'squalifying campaign for the 2000 European Championships.PARAGUAY COACH AXED: Paraguay today dismissed Brazilian coach Paulo Carpegiani after the team's second round defeat by France, the president of the Paraguayan Football Federation Oscar Harrison said.Carpegiani is the fourth World Cup coach to get the bullet but the first to be sacked after taking his team past the group phase.