Frings was barred after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee viewed TV pictures which show him hitting Argentine player Julio Cruz in the face in an on-pitch fracas following Germany's win in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinal.

FIFA said he was definitely suspended for the semifinal but can return for the final on Sunday should Germany qualify.

However any recurrence of bad behaviour in the next six months would see him banned for another match, a FIFA spokesman told AFP.

"Frings is suspended for two matches, but one is a suspended punishment," the spokesman said.

New pictures of the fracas at the end of Germany's tense quarterfinal victory came to light on Sunday, just two days ahead of the semifinal, FIFA's head of communications Markus Siegler had told an earlier media briefing.

A German team official had been shown the pictures and Frings was asked to give his version of events to FIFA's disciplinary committee.

Siegler said: "Yesterday new TV images were presented and in this footage it is to be seen that Torsten Frings is slapping, or hitting, the face of an Argentine player."

Siegler said the Italian football federation had not played any role in bringing the pictures to FIFA's attention.

"There was no attempt from the Italian federation to incite FIFA to do something," Siegler said.

"This footage was shown on a public channel in Germany."

Frings played at rightback in the 2002 World Cup finals where Germany reached the final where they were beaten by Brazil.

The 29-year-old all-action Werder Bremen midfielder had protested his innocence, saying he was only defending himself against punches from Argentine players.

"I did nothing," he had told a German regional newspaper.

"I found myself mixed up in a melee where fists were raining down everywhere.

"I myself was hit twice. It was at that point I protected myself, and put my hand in front of me, but I did nothing else."

Julio Cruz, though, was quoted in the Italian media as saying he hadn't felt a thing.

"I did not see the punch from him, or else I did not feel it," said the Inter Milan striker.

FIFA said it was not unusual for new pictures to come to light several days after the incident.

The fracas was apparently sparked when Argentine player Leonardo Cufre kicked German defender Per Mertesacker following the shootout.

Slovak referee Lubos Michel gave Cufre a red card for his actions.

Cufre and another Argentine, Maxi Rodriguez, have until Wednesday to give their version of what happened to FIFA which will decide if they will be banned for future international matches.