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Wales' Taylor banned 2 matches for tackle that broke Coleman's leg

Reuters / Matthew Childs Livepic

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee has banned Neil Taylor from Wales' next two World Cup qualifiers for his leg-breaking tackle on Seamus Coleman in March.

Taylor received a straight red card and an automatic one-match suspension for the sickening challenge, but it was increased to cover Wales' meetings against Serbia (June 11) and Austria (Sept. 2), the Football Association of Wales confirmed Wednesday.

Coleman, who suffered a double leg break, was ruled out for the remainder of the season. The injury robbed Everton of one of its most important players in the race for a Europa League spot.

"I don't want to see players suffering serious injury, but it's a contact sport," Wales boss Chris Coleman told The Telegraph's Luke Edwards afterwards. "He's not that type of boy because he has also suffered a serious injury."

Coleman's injury was so severe that television broadcasters decided not to show replays. Teammate Shane Long cradled the 28-year-old before he was put on a stretcher.

Losing Aston Villa full-back Taylor - who started in each of Wales' first five World Cup qualifiers - could have ramifications on the Dragons' hopes of reaching Russia. Wales is currently third in Group D, four points behind the Republic of Ireland and Serbia.

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