QUITO, Ecuador (Reuters) -- World soccer's governing body FIFA has ratified an international ban imposed on eight Ecuadorean league players who took part in a post-match brawl, a Football Federation spokesman said on Friday.

Ecuadorean soccer officials banned 11 players for between two and 12 months for taking part in a vicious melee at the end of local club LDU's 1-1 draw at home to Barcelona in December.

Eight of the players are still serving their suspensions, including LDU's leading players Patricio Urrutia and Jairo Campos, FEF spokesman Victor Mestanza said.

Both players were allowed to feature in Libertadores Cup matches earlier this month despite protests from Paraguayan club Tacuary which played against them in the preliminary round.

Ecuador's former striker Agustin "Tin" Delgado, who became a national icon after his performances at the last two World Cups, was suspended for one year for his part in the fracas.

Separately, police have opened an investigation after the popular Delgado was accused by a woman of punching her brother during a bar brawl at a New Year's Eve party.

Delgado's contract with LDU expired in December and local newspapers said he was negotiating to join New York's Red Bulls but a team spokesman declined to comment.

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