Ramos gets one match ban in Mexico for violent conduct

Spanish defender Sergio Ramos received a one-match suspension in the Clausura tournament on Wednesday for violent conduct after being sent off in the 92nd minute of Monterrey's win over Pumas on Sunday.

The Mexican football federation's Disciplinary Commission confirmed the South Africa 2010 World Cup winner's punishment and acknowledged that the defender should have received a card in the 20th minute for aggressive play.

Ramos kicked striker Guillermo Martinez in stoppage time of a 1-3 win for Rayados, after which Pumas coach Efrain Juarez lamented that he had been kept on the pitch for more than 70 minutes after tackling opposing defender Pablo Bennevendo.

"There was a refereeing error in not pointing out the violent conduct of Monterrey player 93 (Ramos) on Pumas player 2 (Bennevendo), which warranted a sending-off; the sending-off of Monterrey player 93 for kicking Pumas player 9 (Martínez), when the ball was no longer in play, was ratified," says a Federation statement released to the media.

The former Madrid player's aggression provoked a reaction from Efrain Juarez, who criticised his attitude. "It seems to me that their centre-back has to be out in the 20th minute. If that had been done by a player from our country, he would have been out in the 20th minute for sure," said the Pumas coach.

Sergio Ramos will turn 39 on March 30, but he won't be able to celebrate on the field with Rayados the day before, when they host Tijuana as they look to improve their eighth-place standing in the standings. The Spaniard will reappear on April 5, when his team will host Chivas Guadalajara.