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.
