Pepe banned for 10 matches

Source: Agencies  |   2009-4-26  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

REAL Madrid defender Pepe has been banned for 10 matches following his red card and extraordinary loss of control against Getafe in last week's 3-2 Primera Liga win at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

The Portuguese international will miss Real's remaining six games of the season, including next week's home match against leader Barcelona, after the ruling by the disciplinary committee of the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF).

With the scores level at 2-2 and three minutes left in last Tuesday's clash at the Bernabeu, Pepe pushed Getafe's Francisco Casquero and the referee awarded a penalty.

He then kicked Casquero on the ground and a second swipe saw him rake his studs over the midfielder's back. In the ensuing melee he struck another Getafe player, Juan Albin, in the face.

He was shown a straight red card, having already picked up a yellow earlier in the match, and said, "You are all sons of whores" to the fourth official as he left the pitch.

He also broke the rules by coming back on to celebrate Gonzalo Higuain's winner with his teammates.

Alfredo Florez, RFEF disciplinary committee president, said on Spanish radio that Pepe had been banned for one game for the red card, eight games for aggression towards opponents and one more match for his offensive remarks.

Pepe apologized for his actions and said he was not a violent player, but his behavior has been widely condemned.

Getafe President Angel Torres was quoted on Friday as saying that Real should tear up the player's contract.

"Pepe's attitude was unforgiveable," he said in Marca. "The behavior we witnessed on Tuesday is bound to encourage violence among children."