(AFP) - Polish striker Robert Lewandowski suspended Barcelona striker for three matches in the Spanish Football League after he showed "disrespect" to the referee, and the penalty will take effect when the season resumes after the end of the Qatar World Cup 2022.
The striker was sent off after receiving two yellow cards during the win over Osasuna on November 8 for making a gesture by touching his nose as he left the pitch, which was seen as an offense to referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
The RFEF said in a statement on Wednesday that in addition to the automatic one-match suspension, the striker was imposed two more matches for showing "an attitude of contempt or disrespect" towards the referee.
Lewandowski, the league's top scorer with 13 goals, is set to miss the Catalan derby against Espanyol and the Atletico Madrid and Real Betis matches.
And Lewandowski commented last week at his European Golden Boot award ceremony for his previous season with Bayern Munich, "This is funny, because the gesture was for Xavi (his coach) and not for the referee."
"Last week, I think, we already talked about being careful if I'm given a yellow card, because something like that can happen, and in the end it did. It's my fault, I received two yellow cards, but the gesture was towards (Xavi). ".
And the Catalan club announced in a statement later on Wednesday that it would “raise the matter to the Appeal Committee” of the Spanish Federation.
Barcelona came back from behind to win the match 2-1 and move two points ahead of Real Madrid, the defending champions, who are in the lead after 14 matches.