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Two-game Cup ban for Suarez

Xinhua, January 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

FC Barcelona striker Luis Suarez was on Friday given a 2-game King's Cup ban by the disciplinary committee of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following incidents in the players' tunnel following Wednesday's tie against Espanyol.

That game came just five days after Espanyol used physical tactics to draw 0-0 against their local rivals in the BBVA Primera Liga and feelings were still running high on Wednesday after another tense game which saw two Espanyol players (Pape Diop and Hernan Perez) sent off for foul plays.

According to the post-game report of referee Martinrz Muniera, Suarez waited in the tunnel for the Espanyol players and said, "I'm waiting for you here, come over here. You piece of rubbish."

This provoked a melee between players from both sides with technical staff and security personnel forced to intervene.

The sanction means Suarez will miss next week's return leg in the Copa and Barca's next game in the competition, which will probably be in the quarter-finals, given that they beat Espanyol 4-1 in the first leg.

The club has announced it will appeal against the suspension with a view of having it overturned or reduced to just one game. Enditem