LUIS ENRIQUE HAS defended Javier Mascherano’s on-pitch language after the midfielder was sent off for swearing in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Eibar on Sunday.
The Argentina international was shown a straight red card by match official Carlos del Cerro in the 83rd minute for voicing his annoyance, which the referee felt was aimed at him.
Depending on the length of his suspension, Mascherano could miss the Catalans’ El Clasico clash against Real Madrid in November.
Enrique remains unsure where Mascherano’s irritation was targeted, but claims officials are overlooking heavy challenges in favour of clamping down on vocalised frustration.
“Today is the best example, referees sanction the protests more than the hard tackles. A hard team like Eibar could have seen more cards,” the Barca boss vexed to reporters.
“This is something usual and we have to improve this. Mascherano didn’t talk to the referee, he said something normal in a football match [played] at 200 pulsations.
“Mascherano said ‘la concha de tu madre’ [the c*** of his mother], is a typical Argentine expression like we say here ‘los cojones’ [the balls], or something like that.
“I’ll have to see if he said that to the referee or just to the air. We have to try to not do this but it’s complicated during a football match.”
Enrique went on to praise Luis Suarez, after the Uruguay international netted a hat-trick in a comeback victory to help the club go joint-top in La Liga.
“What Suarez gives to our team is priceless, he is an irreplaceable player for us,” he added.
The former Liverpool striker’s feat at the weekend took his tally for the season to 10 goals in 14 games in all competitions.
RTE can put in a request to change Sky’s game to 3pm. I doubt Sky would deny them if they did.
you really think Sky wulould back down? 7 clocks seems to be their favoured time.
The Sky deal hasn’t gone down well in rural parts of Ireland. It would be a travesty if a senior football provincial final was not on television. I wouldn’t think Sky would want to be the cause of that. It would be a pr disaster.
it won’t be the first time it’s happened. the only reason it’s an issue now is because of Sky.
No way sky will change the schedule for their competitors. This was always going to happen once sky got involved and for that I think the gaa sold out. To have one of their marquee games of the season not being shown on rte is a massive disappointment and a sign of what’s the come.
out of curiosity..suppose premier sports wouldnt get it either because of sky for us UK based people….
Well no surprise here. GAA make a mess of one of the biggest fixtures of the year and could now lose it to Sly Sports !!! Laughing stock…
This issue is known in advance. People are talking about asking Sky to change their timeslot, but why did the Munster council choose this time and date for the replay?
Would imagine in order to fill their own coffers.
Surely they will come to an agreement. Lets be honest, Nobody wins if a Cork v Kerry Munster final is replaced by Derry v Wexford!
This is crap. Sky have the rights to the 3B games. This is a replay that Sky don’t have rights to! So, so what if it clashes, RTE is an independent broadcaster who can surely broadcast whatever it likes at 7pm on Saturday as long as it isn’t the games it sold!!! RTE needs to cut the crap & show the Munster final
The Derry and Wexford supporters might beg to differ. This is what the GAA signed up for when they did the deal with Sky.
Is this OUR NATIONAL game – Are @RTEsport serious that they won’t broadcast a 7pm replay game because the greedy GAA sold rights to other matches to Sky Sports??
was the first game in killarney as well??