Robert Lewandowski’s three-match ban to stand as Barcelona’s appeal denied

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have been dealt a blow as their appeal to suspend the three-match ban on Robert Lewandowski has been denied by the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS).

Lewandowski was hit with a three-match ban following his sending-off against CA Osasuna in the Catalans’ last game before the World Cup break.

He was handed a one-game suspension for the red card and an additional ban of two more matches due to the gesture he made while walking off the pitch which the match officials deemed to be offensive.

Despite Lewandowski explaining that the gesture he made was him merely interacting with manager Xavi Hernandez, the La Liga’s Competitions Committee decided to hit him with a three-game suspension.

The Blaugrana’s initial appeal to the RFEF Appeals Committee was unsuccessful, prompting them to go to the CAS in hope of overturning the decision or at least securing a temporary suspension on the sanctions until the appeal was studied

However, the CAS has ruled that the 34-year-old striker’s three-match ban will stand and there will be no temporary suspension of the sanctions.

As a result, the Barcelona superstar will now miss their upcoming Catalan derby against Espanyol as well as La Liga matches against Atletico Madrid and Getafe.

Lewandowski joined the Catalan giants this past summer and has been one of the team’s best players. The former Bayern Munich ace is leading the goalscoring charts in La Liga this term and his absence will hurt Xavi & co. in the upcoming matches.