Italy relief as FIFA wipe yellow cards for World Cup play-offs

FIFA have wiped all yellow cards received during the World Cup qualification groups, so ten Italy players, including Gigio Donnarumma and Nicolò Barella are no longer at risk of suspension for the potential Final.

The Azzurri failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 by winning their group, so they must book their place for the competition through the play-offs.

They will face North Macedonia in Palermo on March 24. Turkey and Portugal are the potential opponents in the Final, which will be played on March 29.

Nicolò Barella, Federico Bernardeschi, Giorgio Chiellini, Federico Chiesa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Lorenzo Insigne, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Matteo Pessina, Rafael Tolói and Sandro Tonali would have missed the Final with one yellow card against North Macedonia.

Federico Chiesa will miss the match against North Macedonia anyway as he suffered a knee injury against Roma last week and will undergo surgery in the coming days.

The 24-year-old has been forced to the sidelines for the remainder of the season.