Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11:02 / Updated Saturday, January 31, 2026 11:06
The Romanian Football Federation announced that UEFA, through the Disciplinary Commission, rejected its appeal to reduce the suspension of Denis Drăguș, eliminated in the match with Bosnia. This means that the Romanian striker will not be available for the tie with Turkey.
In November 2025, in Zenica, Denis Drăguș was sent off in the 65th minute. Only two minutes later, he carelessly raised his leg and hit an opponent in the shoulder area, an entry for which he was sent off.
In December, UEFA's Disciplinary Committee heard the case and ruled to suspend Drăguș for two matches official Half of the punishment had already been served, with Drăguș skipping the match against San Marino in the final of the preliminaries, but the problem would be in the second game, because upholding the two-match ban would have meant that the striker would not be available for the tie with Turkey.
The final decision in the case of Denis Drăguș: FRF found out that the striker will NOT be able to play with Turkey
The Romanian Football Federation appealed to the decision of the Disciplinary Commission, and this morning communicated the answer received:
“The appeal submitted by the FRF to the FIFA Disciplinary Commission for the reduction of the suspension of Denis Drăguș, eliminated in Zenica, was rejected. So, unfortunately, our striker will not be available for the semi-final of the WC 2026 play-off, Turkey – Romania, match scheduled for March 26, in Istanbul”.
Instead, if Romania gets past Turkey, Drăguș would be available for the play-off final, with Slovakia or Kosovo. However, it remains unlikely that he will be called up, considering that he will not be able to play in the first of the games, the only match for Romania.
This month, the national team striker changed the team. Trabzonspor ended his loan to Eyupspor and sent him to Gaziantep, where Drăguș felt the best in Turkey.
