Sergio Ramos receives a five-match ban

Sergio Ramos Receives 5-Match Ban After Insulting Referee

Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has received a five-match ban after insulting the referee in the match against Celta in the King’s Cup.

Ramos was sent off in the 73rd minute after receiving a second yellow card for his foul on Celta’s Augusto Fernández.

The ban breakdown is one match as a direct result of the double yellow card, and the extra four are for the abuse he directed at the referee.

The 26-year-old Andalusian was then seen having a heated conversation with the referee Ayra Gámez. Gámez later wrote the content of Ramos’ verbal attack in the official match report (via AS):

"As soon as I showed a yellow card to number 4 of Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos García, the player turned to me and said 'You're a disgrace.' He repeated this three times and then said 'you are always trying to screw us over' a further two times."

After the match the defender reiterated his anger with regards to the decision and insisted he believed it was “unfair”. Taking to twitter later the same night the Real Madrid player said he regretted his words, saying they were the result of the tension after being sent off.

The extent of his ban was announced the day after the match and Ramos continued commenting the incident on twitter. He said he “was sad for his teammates and fans,” he also said that he “hoped that they would be as ‘strict and fair’ with referees who make mistakes game after game.”

The replays of his sending-off are not conclusive as to whether Ramos left his foot up intentionally to stop Fernandez from running forward. He then caught Fernandez in the face with his right foot.

Had the referee interpreted it as a voluntary gesture, the Madrid player would have received a straight red card and an automatic additional three-match ban for violent conduct.

Madrid have appealed the first of the two yellow cards the defender picked up, this was for another heated discussion with De Lucas in the 42nd minute. Marca reported that they will appeal the four-match ban for the insults. If their appeals are successful the ban may be reduced.

Marca also reported that Ramos had called the head of referees, Sanchéz Arminion to apologise following the match. Arminio said:

"He called me to apologise and he told me that he didn't intend to disrespect the match officials. I told him that he had disrespected the refereeing profession and that he should have spoken with the matchday officials themselves."

As it stands, Ramos will miss the two cup games against Valencia and the matches against Osasuna, Valencia and Getafe in La Liga.

Source: Bleacher Report