Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has been handed a one-match suspension by the RFEF Disciplinary Committee, following his red card during the Clasico this past weekend.
The disciplinary body also rejected Real Madrid’s appeal to overturn the red card, meaning the goalkeeper will now miss the upcoming La Liga game against Valencia.
Lunin was the only player who was shown a red card during the heated altercation that ensued between the Real Madrid and Barcelona benches on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The confrontation stemmed from Vinicius Jr.’s provocative celebration that sparked a melee between the two camps on the touchline, with Lunin stepping in to defend his teammate and ending up being dismissed.
Referee Cesar Soto Grado’s report on the incident read as follows:
"In the 90th minute, the player Lunin, Andrii was expelled for the following reason: for leaving his bench towards the opposition bench, in an aggressive attitude, having to be held down by his own teammates."
The RFEF Disciplinary Committee has imposed a one-match suspension on Lunin, classifying his behaviour as a minor offence contrary to sporting conduct. The ruling states:
"Those whose conduct is contrary to sporting order, when classified as serious, will incur a suspension of four to ten matches or a fine of 602 to 3,006 euros."
In this case, the committee ruled it as a lesser infraction, leading to only a one-match ban for the Real Madrid player.
As mentioned earlier, Real Madrid had lodged an appeal to overturn the red card, but the committee has shot it down, granting full credibility to the referee’s report and noting that the video evidence submitted did not contradict the official account.
Real Madrid may now appeal the decision before the Appeals Committee and, as a final step, request a stay of the sanction from the Administrative Court for Sport (TAD).