25 Apr 2009

Real defender Pepe banned for 10 matches

8:40 am on 25 April 2009

Real Madrid defender Pepe has been banned for 10 Spanish football matches following his red card and extraordinary loss of control against Getafe in this week's 3-2 Primera Liga win in Madrid.

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

With the scores level at 2-2 and three minutes left in the 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.