Frings was barred after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee viewed video that showed him hitting an Argentinean player in the face in an on-pitch fracas following Germany's win in a penalty shootout in the quarter-final.

FIFA said he was definitely suspended for the semi-final but can return for Sunday's final if Germany qualify or in the match for the third place. Any recurrence of bad behaviour in the next six months would see him banned for another match, a FIFA spokesman told the AFP news agency.

"Frings is suspended for two matches, but one is a suspended punishment," the spokesman said. Frings was also fined 5,000 Swiss francs (3,190 euros, $4,081) and cannot appeal the decision.

Germany's team manager Oliver Bierhoff said he was unhappy with the decision, adding that the referee Lubos Michel and the two assistant referees were standing next to Frings when the incident happened and did not give him any punishment at the time.

"We are disappointed. We believed that we had presented a sufficient explanation for him to be cleared," he said. "It now seems that we have no alternative other than to accept the decision."

New video set off FIFA investigation

All of Germany's players were initially cleared of any misconduct in the post-match brawl, but the case against Frings was opened when additional video footage of the confrontation was shown by German public broadcaster ZDF.

Italian television executives said they found and broadcast evidence showing Frings throwing a punch at Argentina forward Julio Ricardo Cruz, and some of the Italian newspapers called for the German to be suspended in their Monday editions.

"At the start it passed unobserved, then German television station ZDF found out that we were in possession of these images and they asked for them and broadcast them," Giovanni Bruno, director of Sky Sport told the Italian news agency ANSA. "After that all the television stations took our pictures. At that point FIFA asked for the cassette with those pictures."

The video, which prompted Monday's FIFA investigation, sparked indignation in some German media which said the Italians were simply trying to get one of the best players suspended for the match.

"Italians want Frings suspended," read the page one headline in Germany's Bild daily on Monday. "Are they so afraid of us?"

FIFA denies Italian involvement

FIFA's head of communications Markus Siegler, however, denied that the Italian soccer federation 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," he told reporters, adding that it is not unusual for extra footage to come to light several days after an incident. "This footage was shown on a public channel in Germany."

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

"I did nothing," he told a German local newspaper Kreiszeitung Syke. "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."

Argentina player defended Frings

Argentinean player Julio Cruz backed up Frings' statement saying he didn't feel a punch in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I did not receive a punch from him, or at least I didn't feel one," Cruz is quoted as saying.

Frings' suspension is a blow for Germany. The midfielder has made himself almost indispensable since the outset of the tournament -- scoring a blinder in the 4-2 win over Costa Rica -- and proving a real asset for Germany's defense in the game against Argentina.

Frings is likely to be replaced for the match in Dortmund by Borussia Dortmund's defensive midfielder Sebastian Kehl.

Argentina defender Leandro Cufre and forward Maxi Rodriguez are also being investigated by FIFA for their role in the fight.