Liverpool loanee banned in Belgium

Taiwo Awoniyi who was sent off playing for Mouscron at the weekend has been slammed with a three-match ban by the football body in Belgium.

Video footages showed that the Nigerian striker was held for some time by Lokeren’s Arno Monsecour and while Awoniyi swung his arm back – his elbow caught the nose of the defender who was left with a bleeding nose.

According to Belgian Football, the Nigeria U23 star has been banned for three match days by the Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB), of which two are effective, and fined 800 euros.

It thus means that the 20-year-old will miss Royal Excel Mouscron’s last game of the regular season against AS Eupen plus their first game in the playoffs if the decision is not appealed against.

For Awoniyi, this ban will be a sour point in what has been an outstanding season for him at Mouscron.

The former Golden Eaglets forward is their joint-leading scorer in the Belgian First Division A with seven goals from 27 appearances.