Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski will serve a three-match suspension, starting on Sunday when the Catalans face Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
The ban was originally handed down after Lewandowski was sent off in a 2-1 win over Osasuna at the start of November – the club’s final game before the World Cup.
The veteran forward received a straight one-match ban for his red card suspension – two yellow cards. He was also punished with two more games for allegedly making a gesture towards referee Gil Manzano.
Barça initially approached the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to lift the ban. This appeal was dismissed, but the club continued to escalate the matter.
The suspension was even temporarily overturned, allowing Lewandowski to start against Espanyol in the city derby at the weekend, while the matter was still being reviewed by the Spanish Administrative Court for Sport (TAD). As a result, Espanyol lodged a complaint with the RFEF.
Mundo Deportivo reported that the suspension had been upheld, ruling Lewandowski out of games against Atletico, Getafe and Girona in the coming weeks.
However, it is also suggested that Barça still have the option of appealing and therefore potentially delaying the ban. However, any appeal must be submitted by the end of Thursday as it is the last working day in Spain before the Atlético game – Friday being Kings Day and a public holiday.
Lewandowski has scored 13 La Liga goals in 15 games since joining Barcelona in the summer, although surprisingly he hasn’t found the net in the competition since October.
