Midfield marauder Mascherano's ban extended to Arsenal league clash but Liverpool may appeal
Javier Mascherano will miss Saturday's league game against Arsenal after being hit by an extra two-game ban following his reaction to a red card against Manchester United.
After admitting a charge of improper conduct at a personal hearing, Mascherano, 23, has seen his initial ban of one match extended to three.
A Football Association disciplinary commission also fined the Liverpool midfielder £15,000 for the incident at Old Trafford, when he had to be dragged off the pitch by club officials after receiving a second yellow card.
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Card trick: referee Bennett dismisses Mascherano at Old Trafford
Mascherano, who was set to be replaced by Brazilian Lucas anyway, will also miss the League game with Blackburn, a week on Sunday.
Sportsmail understands that Liverpool will consider an appeal against the FA's punishment, not to reduce the Argentinian's ban, but to express their disagreement with the decision.
A club spokesman told www.liverpoolfc.tv: "Although we received a fair hearing we must now decide whether to appeal on the basis of inconsistency of sentencing for Javier based on past precedents."
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Calm down, calm down: Rafa Benitex attempts to placate his charge at Old Trafford
It will come as a blow to Benitez - who had also disciplined Mascherano internally and fined him two weeks' wages - as he looks to secure the fourth Champions League place.
"Javier is a fantastic professional and he knows he made a big mistake - he apologised to his team-mates and the supporters and he has now apologised to the referee," Benitez said last week.
"He accepts he lost control after the sending-off and has said sorry to the referee. I have also talked with him now and told him he would be fined by the club, and he has accepted that and wants the money donated to charity.
"This was the first red card of our season and we do not have problems of this kind."
