Brazil confirm appeal of Thiago Silva yellow card

BRAZIL have confirmed that they have launched an appeal over the yellow card for skipper Thiago Silva that means he is suspended for Tuesday's World Cup semi-final with Germany.

Thiago was cautioned on Friday night for blocking Colombia's goalkeeper David Ospina and preventing him from kicking the ball upfield when the score was 1-0 to the Selecao. They eventually won the quarter-final 2-1. He was also booked in the 0-0 draw with Mexico in the group stages.

Fifa have confirmed that they are analysing the appeal but the hosts, 11-4 joint-second favourites with their last-four opponents behind 5-2 Argentina, are unlikely to get the ban overturned as it is a near unprecedented move and a reversal would open the governing body up to claims of preferential treatment. Holland are the 7-2 outsiders.