Monaco winger Gelson Martins has been slapped with a six-month suspension for pushing a referee during a 3-1 Ligue 1 loss at Nimes last month.
The 24-year-old shoved referee Mikael Lesagne after teammate and former Chelsea midfielder Timoue Bakayoko was dismissed for a dangerous tackle in the 32nd minute.
He then bizarrely followed it up with an even harder push on the official after he had been shown a red card as tempers flared in the Occitanie region of southern France.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), which acts as a disciplinary panel in French football felt the ‘brutality’ of the situation merited a hefty six-month suspension to end the Portugal internatinal’s season early.
“After examining the file and hearing the player, the commission has decided to sanction Gelson Martins with a closed six-month ban,” the LFP statement read, per the Mail Online.
“This decision is effective from February 6.”
Consequently, Martins will not be able to play domestic football again until Ligue 1 resumes in August. His suspension almost certainly rules him out of contention for Euro 2020 as well.
Coach Robert Morreno’s men are currently seventh in the Ligue 1 table and six points behind the Europa League qualification places.
Martins had expressed his regret over the outburst after the match and Monaco had hoped that his previously clean disciplinary record would have acted in his favour come the judgement of the LFP.
Les Monegasques called the decision ‘a very heavy sanction’ and ‘excessive’ in length, even after they condemned Martins behaviour as ‘unjustifiable.’
Despite that, Monaco did not indicate that they will appeal the ban.
Martins contributed four goals and one assist from 23 appearances across all competitions this season and has earned 21 caps for his country since his debut in September 2016.
Just another example of a player who was unable to control his emotions on the pitch.