Suarez will miss Copa del Rey final after Barcelona's appeal rejected
Luis Suarez will be unable to represent Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.
On Thursday, Barcelona announced its appeal against the red card shown to Suarez was rejected, meaning the Uruguayan forward will miss the match against Deportivo Alaves. The Juez de Competicion imposed a two-match ban on the 30-year-old, and the Catalan club plans on presenting another appeal, this time taking its case to the Comite de Apelacion.
Barcelona said the argument in favour of overturning the decision "is based on the fact that the Barca player didn't make 'frightful' contact with the opposition player as the referee's report states."
In the second leg of Barcelona's semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid, Suarez received two yellow cards in quick succession just before the final whistle. The first came in the 87th minute for a foul on Juanfran, and the second came in the 90th minute, when the Nacional product raised his elbow and Koke fell to the ground.
Speaking after the fixture, Suarez told GOL TV, according to ESPN FC's Samuel Marsden: "I'm laughing at that second yellow, it's not even a foul. I did absolutely nothing. I hope the club will appeal it. It's something which doesn't have an explanation. The referee hasn't given me one, like always, but we're already accustomed to this."
The final of the Copa del Rey is scheduled for May 27, and will see Barcelona face Alaves, who reached the tournament's last stage for the first time in its history by overcoming Celta Vigo in the semi-finals.
HEADLINES
- Celta take big step toward safety, Granada on verge of relegation
- Barcelona women retain Liga F title in pursuit of historic quadruple
- Girona cap fairy-tale season with historic Champions League berth
- Xavi braced for 'huge' changes at Barca after another sorry display
- Real Madrid win 36th La Liga title after Barcelona surrender to Girona