Image source: football-espana.net
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong will serve a one-match suspension for his red card in Sunday’s Spanish Supercup final victory over Real Madrid, but the ban will only apply to domestic competition and not affect his La Liga availability for the upcoming fixture against Real Sociedad.
De Jong Receives One-Match Ban for Spanish Supercup Red Card Against Real Madrid
The Dutch midfielder was dismissed in stoppage time during Barcelona’s triumph over Real Madrid after fouling Kylian Mbappe with what referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero described as excessive force. In his official match report, Montero confirmed that de Jong “was sent off for making a tackle on an opponent with the use of excessive force in the dispute for the ball.”
The Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee will impose the minimum one-match suspension according to regulations stating that “direct expulsion during the course of a match will lead to the imposition of the sanction of suspension during, at least one match, unless the act constitutes a more serious infraction.” De Jong’s challenge does not qualify for a more severe punishment, ensuring he receives only the standard penalty.
The 28-year-old will miss Barcelona’s Copa del Rey Round of 16 clash against Segunda leaders Real Racing Club de Santander on Thursday at the Campos de Sport de El Sardinero. The suspension represents a setback for manager Hansi Flick, who has relied heavily on de Jong’s services in recent weeks, with the midfielder starting Barcelona’s last five matches across all competitions.
Crucially for Barcelona’s La Liga campaign, de Jong will be available for selection when the Catalans travel to face Real Sociedad at the weekend in Donostia-San Sebastian. The midfielder is expected to return to Flick’s starting lineup for the league fixture, having established himself as a key player in the German manager’s tactical setup throughout the current campaign.
