Because of “disrespect” toward a referee, Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has been given a three-match La Liga suspension. He will serve this suspension once Spanish domestic football resumes after the World Cup.

 

On November 8, after receiving two cautions against Osasuna, the Polish striker made a gesture by touching his nose and leaving the field that was technically viewed as rude to the referee.

 

The striker received a two-match suspension in addition to the statutory one-match ban for displaying “an attitude of contempt or disrespect” toward the referee, the Spanish FA stated in a statement on Wednesday.

 

Lewandowski is expected to miss the rivalry match against Espanyol as well as matches against Getafe and Atletico Madrid.

 

Lewandowski remarked last week at a ceremony where he got the Golden Boot for finishing as Europe’s top scorer last season at Bayern Munich, “It’s amusing because the gesture was for Xavi, not for the referee.”

 

Despite receiving a four-game suspension for disrespecting the referee while sitting on the bench, Gerard Pique, a Spanish defender, has retired from the game and will not serve it.