The Primera Division leaders will have to make do without
the services of their first-choice goalkeeper for a number of weeks
Barcelona have announced on their official website that
Victor Valdes has been handed a four-match suspension following his dismissal
in Saturday's 2-1 La Liga loss away against Real Madrid.
The shot-stopper was shown a red card for verbally
abusing referee Miguel Angel Perez Lasa after he refused to award Barcelona a
spot-kick in the closing stages of the game, and consequently faces a spell on
the sidelines.
However, a statement on the Barca website reads that the
Blaugrana will not accept the ban and the club's legal department will appeal
the decision in the upcoming days.
Valdes will miss the Primera Division games against
Deportivo La Coruna, Rayo Vallecano, Celta de Vigo and Real Mallorca if the
suspension is upheld.
The 31-year-old has made 26 league appearances so far
this term, keeping five clean sheets in the process.
