Liverpool’s Lazar Markovic gets four-game ban

Lazar Markovic has been handed a four-game ban from European football after he was sent off in the Reds’ final Champions League group game against Basle in December for catching Behrang Safari in the face with a flick of his hand.

Markovic has been given an extra game on top of the normal three-match ban for violent conduct because he was sent off playing for Benfica in a Europa League match last May.

Liverpool opted not to appeal UEFA’s decision and Markovic will miss both legs of the last-32 Europa League clash against Besiktas, the first of which is at Anfield tomorrow, as well as the home and away last-16 matches should the Reds progress.

Markovic responded to the ban on Twitter with the simple message “4?” accompanied by a picture of himself looking unhappy.

Markovic’s dismissal against Basle was one element of a thoroughly disappointing night for the club, with a 1-1 draw not enough to see them progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Manager Brendan Rodgers was unhappy with the red card, saying after the match: “I thought the sending off was a really disappointing decision by the referee.”