La Liga president Javier Tebas believes it would be shame for Javier Mascherano to miss next month's Clasico due to referee Carlos del Cerro Grande's decision to give the defender a straight red card in the 83rd minute for dissent.
Barcelona came from behind to beat Eibar 3-1 and join Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Division on Sunday, but the crowd was left stunned by the referee's reaction to Mascherano's comment, which was deemed insulting to the linesman's mother.
Mascherano faces a possible four-match ban for the insult, but both Tebas and coach Luis Enrique say the words are a common expression in Argentina and not meant to offend anyone specifically.
Last season, Elche player, Damian Suarez was handed out a four-match ban in a similar instance. The possible four-match ban would mean Mascherano would miss the Clasico against Real Madrid on Nov. 21.
"If that had happened in Argentina, it would have been evaluated differently. It is not a terrible insult in the Spanish language," Tebas told AS.com. "The [referee] committee will evaluate. I know that I have a record of skipping ahead [of the protocol], but I don't know what Mascherano did because I wasn't watching the match. It would be a shame if Mascherano or any other player were to miss the Clasico, but I don't know what he did or didn't say. The referees must determine acts that show lack of respect."
Barcelona on Monday said they will appeal the red card.
"Will will appeal because, in the first place we feel that what Mascherano said is not an insult and in addition it does not reflect what the referee report says formally, so that also gives us the right to request that the report be invalidated," said Albert Soler, Barcelona's director of sporting institutional relations.
Luis Enrique defended his player after the match, when he said: "Javier wasn't directing the comment at the referee of linesman when he said what he said. It's a typical Argentine expression. That needs to be taken into account."
The Madrid-based match official showed five yellow cards to Eibar players (Gonzalo Escalante, David Junca, Aleksandar Pantic, Ander Capa and Eddy). Barcelona were awarded three (Ivan Rakitic, Neymar and Gerard Pique) apart from Mascherano's red. The Basque team committed 18 fouls during the match, with six of these on Neymar.
Tebas also spoke out against Catalan flags at the stadiums.
UEFA last week fined Barca €40,000 after Catalan estelada flags flown by fans during last month's Champions League Group E game at home to Bayer Leverkusen were taken to be political symbols which are not allowed inside stadiums.
"The use of political statements in stadiums should be eliminated," Tebas said. "The estelada is a political manifestation and UEFA is complying with the rule. The fine is correct."