FILE Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos, right, celebrates his goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. AP Photo/Andres Kudacki
MADRID— Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has been suspended for five games after he insulted the referee who sent him off during Wednesday’s victory over Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey.
The Spanish federation said on Thursday that Ramos repeatedly called the referee “shameless” after receiving his second yellow card for fouling Celta’s Alex Lopez in the last-16 match.
Ramos will miss Madrid’s upcoming Spanish league matches against Osasuna, Valencia, and Getafe and both legs of its Copa quarterfinal against Valencia.
Madrid is already without injured centerback Pepe. It’s in third place in the league, 16 points behind leader Barcelona.
Espanyol forward Sergio Garcia was suspended for four games earlier this season for insulting a referee.