Four Vasco da Gama players banned

 　　RIO DE JANEIRO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Four Vasco da Gama players have been given a combined 28-match ban for their part in a wild post-match brawl¹ earlier this month.

　　Eduardo Costa and Rodolfo were each handed eight-game suspensions while Fellipe Bastos and Fagner were banned for six matches apiece by a Rio sports tribunal on Wednesday.

　　The brawl occurred after Vasco lost 2-1 to bitter rival Flamengo following a controversial late penalty awarded to Ronaldinho.

　　Furious Vasco players responded by mobbing referee² Wagner dos Santos Rosa, who needed protection from armed police to prevent a physical attack.

　　Vasco last night said it would appeal the decision, meaning the players could be available for Sunday's rematch with Flamengo in the Rio Cup semifinals.

　　"In our opinion the penalties were harsh. We are going to appeal tomorrow because it's the only chance the players have to play the semifinal," club lawyer Luciana Lopes said.

　　In addition to the suspensions, Vasco was fined 50,000 dollars for the behavior of its fans, who removed plastic seats from the stands and threw them onto Engenhao stadium pitch.

　　The club's executive director Daniel Freitas was suspended for 30 days while president Roberto Dinamite was sanctioned with a warning for inciting³ crowd violence.

1 brawl   

n.大声争吵，喧嚷；v.吵架，对骂

参考例句：

• They had nothing better to do than brawl in the street.他们除了在街上斗殴做不出什么好事。
• I don't want to see our two neighbours engaged in a brawl.我不希望我们两家吵架吵得不可开交。

2 referee   

n.裁判员．仲裁人，代表人，鉴定人

参考例句：

• The team was left raging at the referee's decision.队员们对裁判员的裁决感到非常气愤。
• The referee blew a whistle at the end of the game.裁判在比赛结束时吹响了哨子。

3 inciting   

刺激的，煽动的

参考例句：

• What are you up to inciting mutiny and insubordination? 你们干吗在这里煽动骚动的叛乱呀。
• He was charged with inciting people to rebel. 他被控煽动民众起来叛乱。