Javier Mascherano receives 2-match ban for insulting referee

Barcelona will be without Javier Mascherano for a pair of La Liga games. The midfielder was handed a two-match ban for a red card he received against Eibar.

The suspension, confirmed by Barcelona, stems from an altercation in the second half of Saturday's fixture when the Argentine is believed to have insulted an assistant referee. He will now miss La Liga matches against Getafe and Villarreal.

Though Mascherano lost an appeal to get the suspension overturned because of an alleged misunderstanding, both the player and Barcelona will be relieved that he will not be absent for a critical meeting with Real Madrid in the season's first El Clasico.

The punishment was originally believed to carry a four-match suspension.

Ultimately, his remarks to the referee were considered to be "belittling," a penalty that comes with a two-match suspension.

The ban is based on a precedent from 2013 that La Liga officials referred to when determining his punishment, according to AS.

- With h/t to ESPNFC