Stiff sanctions for Coentrao and Vilanova

Head coach Tito Vilanova of FC Barcelona looks down dejected Barcelona during the Supercopa second leg match betwen Real Madrid and FC Barcelona

Madrid - The Disciplinary Committee of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has handed out heavy sanctions to FC Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova and Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao.

Coentrao has been suspended for four matches for insults aimed at referee Perez Lasa during Real Madrid’s 1-2 defeat to Getafe at the weekend, reports Xinhua.

The Portuguese international was standing next to the dugout when he supposedly called Lasa a “Hijo de Puta”, which can be roughly translated as “son of a prostitute”, quite a common insult in Spain.

Vilanova, meanwhile was handed a two game ban after he was sent off for dissent by referee Muniz Fernandez during Barca’s 2-1 win away to Osasuna. Vilanova has denied any insults and Barcelona have announced the club will appeal the decision.