OFFICIAL: The Competition Committee has suspended Koeman for the next two games

OFFICIAL: The Competition Committee has suspended Koeman for the next two games

The FC Barcelona coach will miss the next 2 games against Valencia and Atlético Madrid. 

Ronald Koeman has been handed a two-game touchline ban after being sent off during Barcelona’s defeat against Granada and will be unable to coach his side from the dugout in two games in the title race run-in against Valencia and Atlético Madrid.

The Liga disciplinary committee slapped Koeman with the two-game ban under Article 117 of the disciplinary code that regulates actions against match officials constituting “contempt or disrespect towards referees, managers or sports authorities.”

Koeman: " I'd like to know what I'm supposed to have said"

Koeman was sent off as Barcelona lost 2-1 to Granada on Thursday evening but protested his innocence after the event: "I don't understand why they sent me off," Koeman said. "They said it was for disrespecting the fourth official. I'd like to know what I'm supposed to have said. He's the one who is rude towards me. If they put something I haven't said in the referee's report then I'll have to do something.”

Barcelona’s defeat was particularly damaging for their title push as it was their last game in hand on rivals Atlético, Real Madrid and Sevilla.

Koeman will now have to watch from the stands at Barça take on Valencia in Mestalla this weekend and then again when leaders Atlético visit Camp Nou on 8 May.