AS Monaco fans may recall the unfortunate match up against Nîmes Olympique in February which resulted in a 3 – 1 loss to the Principality side. The score would most likely have been different if Monaco hadn’t conceded two red cards in such quick succession just after half-time.

Monaco winger Gelson Martins shoved referee Mickael Lesage after team-mate Tiemoue Bakayoko was sent off and pushed the official a second time after receiving a red card himself. This resulted in a 6-month ban from all competitive domestic action for the Portugal international.

While this would have ruled out Martins for the remainder of the 2019/20 season, it seems that the forward may not be able to resume playing until the end of November. This is a result of the French Football Federation’s Executive Committee decision that the period beginning March 13 and ending on June 30 will not count for players serving time-measured suspensions.

While Monaco condemned their winger’s actions at the time, the club sees the elongation of Martins’ suspension as unfair. ASM has initiated proceedings with the CNOSF, the highest sporting authority in France, over the decision made by the LFP to extend the 6 month ban.

At the time of the incident an ASM spokesperson said “The club once again condemns the unjustifiable behaviour of its attacker, but also regrets the excessive length of this suspension, for a player who has never served a disciplinary ban in more than 200 games at the highest level.”

Meanwhile the 24 year old took to social media to express his apologies:

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Ceux qui me connaissent savent que au long de ma carrière, j'ai toujours eu pour principe le respect pour tout le monde: collègues, adversaires, supporteurs et arbitres, sur le terrain et en dehors du même. Je ne suis pas agressif, je ne l’ai jamais été avec personne. Aujourd'hui, après réflexion, j'estime que je dois m'excuser pour mon attitude irréfléchie et avec le sang chaud. Je m'excuse en particulier auprès de l'arbitre Mikael Lesage, mais aussi auprès de mes collègues et de nos supporters. . Quem me conhece sabe que em toda a minha carreira sempre tive por princípio respeitar todos – desde os meus colegas, adversários, adeptos e árbitros – fora de campo e dentro de campo, onde nunca fui nem sou agressivo com ninguém. Sinto que devo pedir desculpa por uma atitude irrefletida e feita de cabeça quente. Peço desculpa, em especial ao Sr. árbitro Mikael Lesage, mas também aos meus colegas de equipa e aos nossos adeptos.

A post shared by Gelson Martins (@gelsondany77) on

In the caption he wrote “Anyone who knows me knows that throughout my career I have held respect for everyone as a principle – my teammates, opponents, fans and officials – off the field and on it, where I have never been aggressive against anyone.”

“I feel I must apologise for my attitude which was unwarranted and the product of a moment of anger… I apologise in particular to the referee Mikael Lesage, but also to my team-mates and our fans.”

Featured image by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images