Barcelona coach, Ronald Koeman is set to miss two crunchy ties for the Blaugrana after he was sent off for disrespecting a La Liga referee.
The Spanish Football Federation confirmed the suspension which would see him miss the games against Valencia and Atletico Madrid as they face an uphill task to win the La Liga trophy.
Barca plummeted from the driving seat to third place following the 2-1 defeat at Granada.
As if that wasn’t enough, Koeman’s day went from bad to worse after he was sent off during the game.
The RFEF Competition Committee disclosed that the Dutchman was suspended for “disparaging or disrespectful attitudes towards referees, officials or sports authorities”.
Daily Mail quoted Koeman as telling the fourth official ‘What a character,’ a statement that was recorded in the referee’s post-match report.
Consequently, the Dutchman was shown the red card, after earlier caution about his conduct in the aftermath of Darwin Machis’ 63rd-minute equaliser for Granada.
Reacting to the red card after the game, Koeman told Movistar: “I don’t understand why they sent me off. They said it was for disrespecting the fourth official.
“I’d like to know what I’m supposed to have said. He’s the one who is rude towards me. If they put something I haven’t said in the referee’s report then I’ll have to do something.”
With the loss, Barca spewed a golden opportunity to go ope-point clear of league leaders, Atletico Madrid, and slipped to third, tied at 71 points with defending champions Real Madrid who are ahead on the head-to-head rule.
Koeman’s suspension would begin this Sunday away to 14th-place Valencia before next Saturday’s title decider against Atletico.
