Raul Meireles gets 11-match ban for spitting at a referee

Former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles has been hit with an 11-match ban for spitting at a referee, according to reports.

The Portuguese international is now in Turkey with Fenerbahce and was accused following his dismissal in the country's most ferocious derby against Galatasaray last weekend.

Meireles confronted referee Halis Ozkahya after he was given a second yellow card in the second half of the 2-1 defeat. It was claimed then that he spat at the official while also making a homophobic remark.


And now reports have emerged the Turkish Football Federation have slapped him with a ban that sees him ruled out until the last week of February.

Speaking after the match, the 29-year-old vehemently denied the claims.

He said: 'I'm really annoyed at being accused of spitting at the referee. I have an eight year old kid, can you imagine if kids at school start saying your father spat at a ref, this could ruin my reputation in the eyes of my child.

'I have many gay friends who I deeply respects. The hand gesture I made is directed at the referee caving in to the pressure of the home fans.

'That hand gesture was to tell him he was scared. Look at my hairstyle, what I wear, I'm not a prejudice person, my hand gesture was in no way, shape or form a homophobic one.

'I don't know what the hand gesture for calling somebody gay is in Turkey but what I did was entirely based around the referee being a coward and bowing to the pressure.

'The referee's accusations are outrageous and are defamation, I will be taking legal action against him to prove my innocence.'