Thursday, March 27, 2008

Javier Mascherano To Ask For Hearing Over Red Card Ban

Javier Mascherano is likely to request a personal hearing in response to his charge for improper conduct.

Liverpool have until 6pm tonight to answer the charge, which the Football Association issued in response to Mascherano’s reaction to his dismissal from Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester United.

The club could seek an extension to that deadline as they attempt to contact the player, who was in Egypt last night playing for Argentina.

But as the case is scheduled to be heard by a regulatory commission on Friday, April 4, Liverpool will almost certainly have to plan for their Premier League game at Arsenal at 12.45pm the following day without the midfielder.

Mascherano will miss the game if the charge of improper conduct is upheld and he could also miss the Premier League game against Blackburn eight days later if his ban is extended by more than one game.

But pleading his case and escaping further punishment is a scenario manager Rafael Benitez can’t risk allowing for as he prepares his squad for the second of three crucial meetings with Arsenal in a week.

Mascherano is currently serving a one-match suspension for the dismissal, ruling him out of Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield.

But any ban further would exclude the Champions League quarter-final first and second legs against Arsenal on April 2 and 9. A statement released by the FA yesterday said: “Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano has today been charged with improper conduct.

“The charge relates to his reaction towards referee Steve Bennett after being sent off against Manchester United on Sunday 23 March.”

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