Barca to appeal Messi's two match ban

Barcelona now know how long they will be without Leo Messi for and it is the shortest ban possible. The president of the competition committee, Carmen Perez, has imposed a two game ban on the Argentinian striker. 

She took into account several factors when it came to deciding on a ban for the Argentine. The most important thing was that referee Jesus Gil Manzano did not call it violent conduct, but that he hit an opponent "with excessive force". 

Barca also sent in video footage to claim that it was not violent conduct, but that Messi was pushing Asier Villalibre out of the way instead of hitting him on the face. 

'ABC' reports that the Catalan giants also said that it was Messi's first red card in 753 matches for the club so he is not that type of player. He was just angry and frustrated at the situation given that his team were losing and just seconds remained in the match. 

In short, Lionel Messi has been given the shortest possible ban for catching Asier Villalibre in the closing stages of the Super Cup. The red card was given after a VAR review and the Barca star has now been suspended. 

The two matches Leo Messi will miss

Ronald Koeman will not be able to play him in the club's next La Liga and Copa del Rey games. The captain will miss the cup tie with Cornella and then the league fixture with Elche, both away from home. 

He will be available when Barca and Athletic Bilbao face off in the league on matchday 21. 

Messi's suspension will also allow him time to recover from the knock he had picked up which nearly saw him miss the final. 

It is not the first time this type of red card was given a two match suspension instead of four. Gil Manzano used the same phrase when Grego Sierra of Sabadell and Charles of Pontevedra saw red and they also received two game bans. 

Barcelona will appeal the ban

The Catalan outfit did not take long to comment on Leo Messi's suspension. They think two matches is too harsh a punishment so they have said they will appeal the suspension. 

"FC Barcelona is to appeal the suspension issued to Leo Messi. The Competition Committee announced on Tuesday that the Argentinian’s red card in the final minutes of the Spanish Super Cup Final against Athletic Club shall incur a two-match ban," the club said in a brief statement. 

The club then said that it was the player's first ever red card for Barcelona and also used referee Gil Manzano's match report as justification for a reduced ban.