Almería star Melero hit with 4-match ban for post-Real Madrid comments | OneFootball

La Liga basement dwellers Almería have today been dealt a hefty blow on the personnel front.

This comes amid confirmation that the controversial recent comments on the part of Gonzalo Melero have landed him in hot water.

Frontman Melero caught headlines across the world of football late in January.

As much came owing to a statement on the part of the 30-year-old, in the aftermath of his side’s controversy-strewn 3-2 La Liga defeat at the hands of Real Madrid.

After Los Blancos were the beneficiaries of more than a couple of favourable refereeing decisions at the Santiago Bernabéu, Melero let loose in his post-match interview, adamant that:

“The feeling is that the game has been stolen from us, clearly. I think that more could not have been done from the outside to get them (Real Madrid) into the game. The penalty, the goal with the hand, the goal disallowed due to a struggle… There is no way to take it. There have already been several this year. If you don’t complain, they don’t help you, that’s how it is. We have never said anything, but I think that today has crossed all limits.”

Widespread reports in the weeks following pointed towards Melero as being in line for a lengthy ban, spanning anywhere from four to 12 matches.

And, as alluded to above, on Tuesday, confirmation has arrived that the attacker will indeed be unavailable for selection for each of Almería’s next four La Liga fixtures.

As per a report from Marca:

‘The Competition Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation has decided to sanction the UD Almería footballer, Gonzalo Melero, with four matches for his statements in the mixed zone of the Bernabéu after Real Madrid-Almería.’

Conor Laird | GSFN