Victor Valdes banned for four games

Barcelona‘s Spanish international goalkeeper Victor Valdes has been handed a four-match suspension by the Spanish Football Federation.

The decision follows Valdes’ verbal assault on referee Miguel Angel Perez Lasa after Barcelona’s recent La Liga game against fierce rivals Real Madrid. Barcelona ended up on the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline, which was also their second defeat at the hands of the Los Merengues within a week.

Lasa showed Valdes the red card after the final whistle, which would have kept Valdes out of action for Barcelona’s following three domestic games. The punishment means that the Spaniard will have to sit out one game further.

Jose Pinto is expected to fill in for Valdes.