Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has been handed a two-match suspension by the Competitions Committee following his red card during their 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid.
SPORT confirmed the news via @Barca_Buzz on X.
Xavi’s expulsion occurred during the first half of the match at the Wanda Metropolitano due to his protests and complaints about the referee’s decisions.
Despite fears of a three-match ban due to his previous disciplinary issues, Xavi received a two-match suspension, allowing him to be on the sidelines for the upcoming Clasico against Real Madrid in April.
Along with the suspension, Xavi has been fined €600 (£514/$655), and the club will also need to pay a penalty of €700 (£600/$764).
Barca Noticias reports that Xavi has accumulated 24 yellow cards in La Liga over his three-year tenure as Barcelona manager, averaging one yellow card every 5.5 league games.
This rate is significantly higher than his frequency of receiving yellow cards as a player, where he averaged one yellow card every 13 games throughout his 928-match career.
Xavi’s suspension means he will miss Barcelona’s upcoming matches against Las Palmas at Montjuic and Cadiz away, before returning to the touchline for the Clasico against Real Madrid on April 21.
However, he will still oversee Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on April 10.