Barcelona’s appeal against Hansi Flick’s two-match ban has been dismissed, meaning the coach will be forced into the stands for the team’s next two games.
Flick was shown a red card and subsequently sanctioned with a ban for “protesting to the main referee(s), the assistants or the fourth referee(s)” after Frenkie de Jong had been penalised for a foul on Vitor Roque.
Barcelona did appeal the decision to ban Flick but the suspension has been upheld and he will not be on the touchline against Leganes or Atletico Madrid.
The decision has already left the Barcelona coach baffled. He said after the draw against Betis that he did not understand why he had been shown a red card.
Video footage subsequently emerged on social media that appeared to show it was an incredibly harsh decision.
Flick’s absence will be a blow but Barca do head into the match against Leganes after a morale-boosting win over Dortmund in the Champions League.