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Mascherano: Deadline extended

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Teams

• Liverpool

Players

• Javier Mascherano

Also see

• Mascherano charged by FA
• Rafa seeks Hackett talks
• Masch baffled by red card

The Football Association have extended the deadline for Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano to respond to his improper conduct charge to 6pm on Friday.

Mascherano has been charged by the FA after he was sent off for receiving two yellow cards in the first half of Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester United on Grand Slam Sunday.

However, Mascherano has been on international duty with Argentina and a 24 hour extension to the right to appeal to the charge has now been agreed.

But the date for the case - scheduled to be heard by a regulatory commission - has been brought forwards to 3rd April.

Mistake

Reds boss Rafa Benitez admitted Mascherano made a mistake in refusing to leave the pitch, but felt his sending off was harsh.

Mascherano can accept or deny the charge and also has the option of requesting a personal hearing.

The 23-year-old is currently serving a one-match suspension for the dismissal, ruling him out of Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield, which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1.

But if the charge of improper conduct is upheld then he will also miss the Premier League games against Arsenal on 5th of April and Blackburn eight days later.

However, any ban would exclude the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first and second legs against Arsenal on 2nd and 8th April.