Javier Mascherano is hit by fine ahead of hearing

Mar 29 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

JAVIER MASCHERANO has been slapped by a club fine after admitting a charge of improper conduct following his sending-off at Manchester United last week.

The Liverpool midfielder was censured by the Football Association’s disciplinary commission for his reaction to being dismissed by Steve Bennett for dissent last Sunday.

Mascherano has requested a personal hearing, with the case due to be heard in London next Thursday.

But Rafael Benitez has revealed the Argentine has already been fined £20,000 by the club with the 23-year-old asking the money be donated to charity.

“We were talking and the player has apologised for his reaction after the sending-off,” said the Liverpool manager. “He knew he had made a mistake so it’s clear and now we’re waiting for the hearing.

“Mascherano has asked for a personal hearing. The club will be there, but I will be concentrating on the games. The player wants to show that he has apologised. We know Mascherano is a fantastic player and we have had no problems with red card decisions. It was a very special situation and everyone was surprised as I said after the game.

“He knows. We’ve fined the player and he’s accepted the fine because it’s normal and he proposed that we give the fine to charity.”

Mascherano’s initial one-match ban means he missed tomorrow’s Merseyside derby, with the suspension poised to be extended to take in the Premier League trip to Arsenal on April 5 and the home clash with Blackburn Rovers on April 13 should his charge be upheld at next week’s hearing.