Barcelona have revealed that they will launch an appeal to Uefa over a proposed one-match ban for Andres Iniesta.

The midfielder was shown a yellow card in the Spanish champions’ 5-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Iniesta served a suspension for the return leg in Ukraine as a result of him having picked up three yellow cards in the competition.

However, Uefa are apparently ready to suspend Iniesta for a further game because it is thought that the 26-year-old deliberately earned himself the yellow card so that his disciplinary slate would be wiped clean ahead of their semi-final encounter with Real Madrid.

Barcelona, though, have now stated that they will appeal against this proposal and stated on their official website: “The proposed sanction comes as a result of a report from Uefa match officials at the game, who have alleged that the yellow card was deliberately incurred so that the player would be suspended for the return leg. The Uefa disciplinary committee will make a decision on the case on Wednesday.

“FC Barcelona believe that the arguments outlined in their appeal, based on the good faith of the player and the disproportionate nature of the proposed sanction will be sufficient to rebut these allegations.”

The first-leg of the last four tie between Madrid and Barca is at the Bernabeu on April 27.

Barcelona's Andres Iniesta eligible for Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid after escaping Uefa ban
Iniesta eligible to play in Champions League semi-final as Uefa quash ban proposals in relation to deliberate booking allegations

Andres Iniesta has escaped a ban from Uefa, and will be able to play in the Champions League semi-final, first-leg against Real Madrid next week after it was ruled he did not intentionally pick up a yellow card against Shakhtar Donetsk.




http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2011/04/20/2450198/barcelonas-andres-iniesta-eligible-for-champions-league-semi