FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has been handed a two-match ban after being sent off in the Week 29 La Liga matchday at the Civitas Metropolitan, in which his team won convincingly by 3 goals to nil against Atletico Madrid.

Referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martínez detailed the reasons for Xavi’s dismissal in his match report.

“In the 41st minute, coach Xavier Hernandez Creus was reprimanded for the following reason: for making technical observations on one of my decisions,” he wrote.

“In the 42nd minute, coach Xavier Hernández Creus was sent off for the following reasons: for making technical observations on one of my decisions, shouting, making inconsiderate gestures, and after having been previously warned by the 4th referee.”

The two-match ban means the Barcelona head coach will not be on the touchline for La Liga games against Las Palmas and Cadiz after the international break.

Xavi Hernandez will therefore return to the touchline for Barca’s next game, which happens to be a Clasico league match against their biggest rival, Real Madrid, at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Xavi Hernandez, assistant coach, boasts an excellent record

The red card at the Wanda Metropolitan is Xavi’s second of the 2023–24 season as a Barcelona coach. 

His first dismissal was in the La Liga opener against Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, which ended in a goalless draw after both Xavi and his player Raphina got sent off.

Xavi’s brother and assistant coach Oscar Hernandez then took over touchline duties, grabbing all six points in the next two outings (home to Cadiz and away to Villarreal) in Xavi's absence.

The assistant coach will take over touchline duties once again for the next two games (at home to Las Palmas on March 30 and away to Cadiz on April 13, 2024).

Xavi Hernandez has only been sent off twice as a player

The Barcelona legend has suffered two red cards in his career, both double yellows. One, however, was with Al Sadd, a Qatari sports club, where he moved after retiring professionally from FC Barcelona. 

The second was on the 7th of May, 2008, in a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Clasico.

To be fair to him, the score was 4-1 to Real Madrid in the biggest football encounter. Anyone would lose his mind, although I suppose the words he said to the referee weren’t that pleasant because he gave Xavi two yellow cards within seconds of each other for dissent.

So, if both events count, then it means Xavi Hernandez only received two red cards in his career as a professional player.