Masch handed ban and fine

Argentine gets additional two-game ban and £15,000 fine

Last updated: 3rd April 2008

Javier Mascherano Manchester United v Liverpool March 2008 red card

Mascherano gets his marching orders

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Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has been banned for an extra two games and fined £15,000 by the Football Association.

Mascherano was 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 last month.

The Argentine had to be restrained by his team-mates, manager Rafa Benitez and members of the Liverpool back-room staff after being shown a second yellow card for questioning referee Steve Bennett's decision to book team-mate Fernando Torres.

Mascherano admitted the charge of improper conduct and at Thursday's hearing he has been hit by a further two-match ban and fine.

Mascherano has already served a one-match ban for his sending off at Old Trafford after missing last weekend's win over Everton in the Merseyside derby.

Charge

A statement from The FA read: "At a Disciplinary Commission hearing today, Liverpool's Javier Mascherano was fined £15,000 and given an additional two match suspension.

"Mascherano admitted a charge of improper conduct in relation to his behaviour after being sent off during Liverpool's match against Manchester United on Sunday 23 March.

"He has already served a one match ban for the sending-off. The additional suspension will come into force with immediate effect."

It means Mascherano will miss the upcoming Premier League games against Arsenal this weekend and at home to Blackburn on 13th April.

However, Liverpool have confirmed that they are considering an appeal against the punishment, with a spokesman telling the club's official website: "Although we received a fair hearing we must now decide whether to appeal on the basis of inconsistency of sentencing for Javier based on past precedents."