The Liverpool defender has been sanctioned by European football’s governing body for posting insulting language on Instagram
Dejan Lovren has been given a one-match ban by UEFA for comments made on social media following Croatia’s Nations League win over Spain.
Having already criticised Sergio Ramos in the build-up to the game in November, the Liverpool man was filmed in an Instagram video calling the Spain squad “p******”, before uploading a picture of him beating Ramos in an aerial duel in a separate post.
The pair had been at odds for some time, with Ramos’ tackle in on Mohamed Salah in the Champions League final – which led to a nasty shoulder injury for the Egyptian winger – a stand-out point in the fued between the two.
Ramos had then attempted to defuse the feud in a pre-game news conference, insisting he had no interest in responding to the initial criticism, but Lovren claimed Luis Enrique’s side lacked class in defeat.
“We showed bigger balls than them,” the 29-year-old told reporters after full-time.
“They were rude on the pitch, no fair play. We lost [the reverse fixture] 6-0 but were fair.
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“Only [Alvaro] Morata congratulated us now. I’ve never experienced that and I am glad because they thought they were bigger than us and we proved them wrong.”
UEFA found him guilty of insulting behaviour and suspended him for Croatia’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Azerbaijan on March 21.
Lovren was a mainstay at the heart of the Croatia defence that reached the World Cup final in July and has largely impressed in Liverpool establishing a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
The 29-year-old will miss Saturday’s trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, however, after sustaining a hamstring problem early in Monday’s FA Cup defeat at Wolves.
Asked how long he would be out, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said: “I don’t know. It is serious otherwise he would play, but it is not that serious. It is a muscle thing and I would expect him back after maybe Crystal Palace, I am not sure. We have to see.”
Liverpool remain at the top of the Premier League, four points ahead of champions Manchester City, heading into the weekend.