LIVERPOOL -- Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has declared Lazar Markovic's four-match European ban to be "very, very harsh."
Rodgers, though, has confirmed that the club have not appealed against the punishment.
Markovic, 20, was handed the suspension by UEFA on Tuesday, having been sent off during his side's 1-1 Champions League draw at home to Basel on Dec. 9.
The Serbia international, dismissed after he was ruled to have struck Behrang Safari in the face, was certain to receive at least a one-match ban for the offence as red cards in European games can only be challenged on the basis of mistaken identity.
A UEFA disciplinary committee decided that the incident was worthy of a longer ban, after a spokesman for the body confirmed it had taken into account his sending off while playing for Benfica against Juventus in last season's Europa League semifinal second leg.
It means that the winger will play no part in either leg of Liverpool's Europa League last-32 tie against Turkish Super Lig leaders Besiktas.
Ahead of Thursday's first leg at Anfield, Rodgers told a news conference: "We're disappointed with the length of the ban purely because of the incident. I think everyone would have felt it was very, very harsh.
"However, we accept the ban and unfortunately he will have to serve that. He won't be able to play any part in these coming games. But in the future, we hope he'll be able to play many more European games for the club."