Liverpool's Lazar Markovic
Liverpool's Lazar Markovic holds his face after a challenge from Chelsea's Filipe Luis (L) during their English League Cup semi-final first leg soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England January 20, 2015. REUTERS/Phil Noble

The Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA, disciplinary committee has meted out a four-game ban on Liverpool’s Lazar Markovic, who was surprised with the length of the suspension. Markovic will not be allowed to suit up against Besiktas in Liverpool’s UEFA Europa League last 32 leg matches and possibly the last 16 home and away matches in the competition.

"It was disappointing. The fingernail hardly touches he nose of the defender. The defender is the one who should be looked at. He should be looked at and sent off for that reaction," Markovic said to independent.co.uk. "I thought a lot of decisions tonight were disappointing. It's not the Premier League and we understand that. But the decision was certainly very disappointing.”

In the official statement posted in the UEFA website, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body suspended Markovic “following the direct red card he received during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Liverpool FC and FC Basel 1893”. The match between Liverpool and Basel, which ended in a 1-1 draw, was played last Dec. 9, 2014 and Markovic or Liverpool’s side did not appeal the decision. The normal ban is for three matches but he has a history of violent conduct on the pitch that the disciplinary committee added an extra game ban. Markovic was also sent off last May 2014.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said in the same article that it should have been Basel defender Behrang Safari who should have been sent off for his “theatrics” that caused Markovic’s dismissal.

Markovic signed with Liverpool on July 15, 2014 for 20 million pounds. In the 2014-2015 season, he has appeared in 26 matches for club scoring 3 goals. Markovic scored his first goal for Liverpool against Bournemouth in the League Cup quarter-finals on Dec. 17, 2014. Liverpool will face Besiktas at home on Thursday, Feb. 19 and the away match will be played next Thursday, Feb. 26.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author.

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