LEWANDOWSKI ISSUED THREE-MATCH BAN AFTER ‘DISRESPECT’ TOWARDS REF
Barcelona: Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has been given threematch ban in La Liga for showing “disrespect” towards a referee, which he will serve when Spanish domestic football resumes after the World Cup.
The Polish striker was sent off for two bookings against Osasuna on November 8 and made a gesture, touching his nose as he left the pitch, which was considered disrespectful to referee Jesus Gil Manzano. In addition to the automatic one-match suspension, a further two matches were imposed on the striker for showing “an attitude of contempt or disrespect” towards the official, the Spanish FA said in a document yesterday.
Lewandowski, the league’s top scorer on 13 goals, is set to miss the derby against Espanyol and games against Atletico Madrid and Getafe. “It’s funny, because the gesture was for Xavi, not for the referee,” said Lewandowski last week at a ceremony where he received the Golden Boot for finishing as Europe’s top scorer last season at Bayern Munich. “Last week, I think, we already talked about being careful if we were booked, because something like that could happen, and, in the end, it did. It’s my fault, I got two yellow cards, but the gesture was for (Xavi).”
Barcelona said that they would appeal the suspension. Gerard Pique, who was on the bench and also sent off for insulting the referee, has been issued a four-game ban however the Spanish defender has retired from football so will not serve it.
NO DAVIES AS CANADA FACE JAPAN IN FINAL WORLD CUP TUNEUP
Canada will be without Alphonso Davies when they take on Japan in a final World Cup tuneup, coach John Herdman said yesterday, as they wait for a clean bill of health for the dynamic forward from his club Bayern Munich.
When Davies was helped off the field during a Bundesliga game in early November with a hamstring strain it left Canadians holding their collective breath.
Fears that Davies might miss the World Cup have since subsided but the 22-yearold has yet to join the team who open the tournament next Wednesday against second-ranked Belgium.
“Phonzie (Davies) is still not with the team,” said Herdman, on a conference call ahead of today’s friendly with Japan in Dubai. “He didn’t travel into this match and we’re still waiting for his final assessment, final release from Bayern Munich.”
Back at the World Cup for the first time since 1986, Canada have been hit by a rash of injuries that have left Herdman on edge as he balances the need to get his squad playing time against picking up more fitness concerns. Herdman was reminded of how quickly misfortune can strike when from out of the blue Doneil Henry sustained an injury in the warmup for Friday’s friendly against Bahrain that ruled the veteran out of the World Cup.