Just over 30 minutes into Tuesday night’s match between Barcelona and Osasuna, Robert Lewandowski was sent off after receiving a second yellow card from referee Gil Manzano after appearing to elbow and back into defender David Garcia.
Osasuna’s Garcia had gotten things started in the sixth minute from a corner, but Xavi’s team rallied back and prevailed thanks to goals from Pedri and Raphinha in the second half.
That’s the good news, but the bad news for the Catalan club is that Lewandowski could now miss further important games against Atletico Madrid and Real Betis along with their upcoming derby against cross-city rivals Espanyol after the World Cup.
Lewandowski left the field expressing his disapproval of the decision and making a gesture with his fingers and nose, which reports have claimed was a message that there was something “fishy” about the referee.
Robert Lewandowski is sent off in the first half against Osasuna after picking up two yellow cards in 19 minutes š pic.twitter.com/pfp7PzeTjS
ā B/R Football (@brfootball) November 8, 2022
The Pole was even seen pointing at the referee as he left the pitch.
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Should the disciplinary committee find Lewandowski guilty of questioning the integrity of the official, then he would face more than the typical one-game suspension that comes with two yellow cards and could be out for a further three games.
Former Atleti and Borussia Monchengladbach defender Alvaro Dominguez did attempt to help clarify the matter by explaining that the gesture simply meant “arrogant” in Germany, where Lewandowski played for 12 seasons with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
Whether that will help the forward escape further suspension remains to be seen.
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