Liverpool FC consider appeal over Javier Mascherano's extended ban

Apr 4 2008

LIVERPOOL are considering an appeal after Javier Mascherano was handed an additional two-match ban yesterday.

The Football Association have chosen to further censure the Argentina midfielder for his reaction to being sent off in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United on March 23.

Mascherano, who had earlier been cautioned for a foul, was shown a second yellow card for dissent a minute before half-time after questioning referee Steve Bennett’s booking of Fernando Torres.

The 23-year-old was furious with the subsequent red card and had to be ushered off the field by a combination of team- mates and the Liverpool coaching staff.

Mascherano admitted a charge of improper conduct after a personal hearing yesterday and has been punished further by the FA, with the additional suspension coming into effect immediately.

Mascherano, who missed last Sunday’s Merseyside derby for the initial dismissal, will now sit out the trip to Arsenal tomorrow and the visit of Blackburn Rovers on Sunday week.

An FA disciplinary commission also fined Mascherano £15,000, with the midfielder having already been hit with a £20,000 club fine last week.

Mascherano has since apologised to his team-mates for his behaviour and sent a letter to Bennett, while Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez sought talks with referees’ chief Keith

Hackett to find “a solution” to the problems that resulted in his player being sent off.

It is understood Liverpool’s possible appeal would be not with the intention of reducing the ban, but rather to express their disappointment at the punishment.

The Anfield outfit, who have until noon to decide whether to pursue the matter further, fear that Mascherano has been made a scapegoat after the furore over respect for referees that was sparked by Chelsea defender Ashley Cole’s behaviour towards Mike Riley at Tottenham Hotspur four days earlier.

A spokesperson said yesterday: “Although we received a fair hearing we must now decide whether to appeal on the basis of inconsistency of sentencing for Javier based on past precedents.”

Benitez said last week: “Javier is a fantastic professional and he knows he made a big mistake – he apologised to his team-mates and the supporters and he has now apologised to the referee.

“He accepts he lost control after the sending-off and has said sorry to the referee. I have also talked with him now and told him he would be fined by the club, and he has accepted that and wants the money donated to charity.

“This was the first red card of our season and we do not have problems of this kind.”