Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono has been handed a two-game ban for his sending-off against Getafe on Monday, as the Argentine continues to endure a disappointing first season with the LaLiga giants.

In the closing stages of Madrid’s surprise 1-0 home defeat, Mastantuono was dismissed by referee Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz for allegedly calling the official a “fucking disgrace”.

Which Real Madrid games will Mastantuono miss?

Mastantuono will be suspended for Madrid’s LaLiga games at Celta Vigo on March 6 and at home to Elche on March 14. The 18-year-old won’t be available to play another league match until Los Blancos’ derby clash with Atlético Madrid on March 22.

In total, he’ll be eligible for only three games this month: the Atlético matchup, plus Madrid’s home-and-away matches against Manchester City in the Champions League last 16.

Mastantuono has been punished under Article 124 of the Spanish Soccer Federation’s (RFEF) disciplinary code, which reads: “Addressing the referee in terms of contempt or disrespect, provided the action does not constitute a more serious offense, will result in a suspension of two to three matches or up to one month.”

What did Real Madrid argue in the player’s defense?

In Mastantuono’s defense, Madrid argued that footage of the incident does not appear to show the player addressing the referee directly. However, the RFEF’s disciplinary committee did not accept this argument, deeming that even if Mastantuono and Muñiz Ruiz were not looking at each other when the incident took place, it is evident the player was talking to the referee.

Madrid had also contended that the phrase attributed to Mastantuono – “vaya puta vergüenza” – is not one typically used in Argentinian Spanish.

However, in its ruling on Mastantuono’s suspension, the disciplinary committee said: “The referee was in close proximity to the player at the time, thus benefiting from the privileged immediacy that allows him to perceive verbal expressions directly. Immediacy is essential when judging this type of behavior, as the individual officiating on the pitch is the only one who can fully grasp the context, tone, and intent of the expressions used.

“The club’s claims do not unequivocally prove that such expressions were not uttered, nor that the referee committed a clear, manifest error in his perception of events. They merely offer an alternative interpretation based on a different assessment of the images, which is insufficient to overturn the presumption of veracity that, as previously stated, protects the referee’s report.”

Mastantuono’s maiden season ‘mare

Mastantuono’s dismissal against Getafe came at the end of a poor display by the second-half substitute. The teenager, a $73 million summer signing from Argentinian giants River Plate, played 22 minutes against Los Azulones, misplacing 50% of his passes and completing only 50% of his dribbles. He finished with just 17 touches.

And Mastantuono’s season‑long snapshot does not make for better viewing. He has played 1,204 minutes – just 33% of the team’s total – and, across 26 appearances, registered a mere three goals and one assist.

The young Argentine was, initially, a major bet for head coach Álvaro Arbeloa. After Arbeloa’s appointment in January, one of his early decisions was to place significant faith in Mastantuono: indeed, 32% of the player’s total minutes this term came in Arbeloa’s first six matches at the helm.

Between January 14 and March 1, Mastantuono started against Albacete, Monaco, Villarreal, Benfica, and Rayo Vallecano. And he came off the bench against Levante, playing the entire second half. During that stretch, he played 71% of all available minutes.

But Mastantuono didn’t deliver – and has since vanished from Arbeloa’s lineups. He was given nine minutes as a substitute at Valencia on February 8, and then remained on the bench for three consecutive games: no action against Real Sociedad, in the playoff first leg in Lisbon, or at Osasuna. And in the last two games, Mastantuono has mustered 14 minutes in the return leg against Benfica, and 22 against Getafe.

Related stories

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.