Barcelona will be able to call on Javier Mascherano for next month’s clash with Real Madrid after the Argentine received just a two-game ban for the red card he received against Eibar, the club confirmed on Wednesday.Â
Mascherano was sent-off seven minutes from time in Barca’s 3-1 win over the Basque minnows on Sunday by referee Carlos del Cerro Grande for a comment regarding the official’s mother, according to the referee’s report.
The former Liverpool man could have been banned for at least four games had the comment been deemed as a grave insult, which would have meant him missing the trip to Madrid on November 21.
Barcelona confirmed on Monday that they were planning to appeal the red card.
“It is our moral and legal obligation to present an appeal to defend our player,” said Barca vice-president Jordi Mestre.
“We have asked the player about the events and he has explained to us that he was showing an expression of anger and had no intention to insult anyone.”
Should the appeal fail, Mascherano will be absent for Saturday’s visit to Getafe and a home match against Villarreal on November 8. –Â Agence France-Presse
