Barcelona starlet will be available vs Real Betis despite red card with reserve team

With first-team football entering a brief hiatus due to the international break, Barcelona starlet Fermin Lopez opted to make use of the time to play for the club’s reserve team to help maintain his fitness and rhythm.

After having sought the permission of first-team manager Xavi Hernandez, Fermin Lopez was named in the squad for Barça Atletic’s match against Gimnastic.

In fact, the 20-year-old was even named in the starting XI by manager Rafa Marquez, but things did not go as planned for the young midfield prodigy on his debut for the subsidiary team.

Fermin in tears after being sent off

On his debut for Barça Atletic, Lopez endured a forgettable outing as he was sent off just 47 minutes into the game after receiving a second yellow card.

The La Masia ace had been booked in the first half for protesting a decision and was then given his marching orders early in the second period as he picked a second yellow for a repeated foul on an opponent.

Speaking after the game, Barça Atletic captain Marc Casado revealed that Fermin was in tears after how his debut had ended, saying (h/t Mundo Deportivo):

“It was his debut with Barça B, as last year he was with Linares, and the lad was crying very sadly. He’s very upset because he wanted to come and help us and he was playing a great game.”

Fermin will be available for Barcelona vs Real Betis

However, despite his sending-off against Barça Atletic, Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Lopez will be available for selection for the Barcelona first team when they take on Real Betis after the international break this weekend.

The report states that Lopez will be available for the first team in Barça-Betis on Saturday (9 pm) and will serve his suspension in the Primera RFEF in Barça Atlètic-Fuenlabrada on the same day (7.30 pm) as it is of a minor nature and not serious.

In November 2018, Article 56 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code was modified, which since then has allowed players to serve their suspension in their usual competition and in which they have a record, as is the case of Fermin with the Barça reserve team, without this depriving him of being able to play in the professional football category in which he has a licence.

The 20-year-old has already made his debut this season with Barcelona’s first team against Villarreal in La Liga with the number 32 on his back.