MADRID (Reuters) – Barcelona will appeal a four-match ban handed to goalkeeper Victor Valdes after he furiously berated the referee at the end of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Real Madrid, the La Liga leaders said on Wednesday.

Valdes, who would miss the league games against Deportivo La Coruna, Rayo Vallecano, Real Mallorca and Celta Vigo if the sanction stands, confronted Miguel Angel Perez Lasa after the referee waved away Barca’s appeals for a late penalty following an apparent trip on Adriano by Real defender Sergio Ramos.

Barcelona's goalkeeper Victor Valdes tries to make a save during their Spanish first division soccer match against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid March 2, 2013. REUTERS/Susana Vera

Perez Lasa wrote in his match report that Valdes, who had to be restrained by team mates and club officials, had continued his protests in the tunnel.

"The legal department of FC Barcelona will lodge an appeal in the coming days against the decision by the football federation’s competition committee," Barca said in a statement on their website (www.fcbarcelona.es).

Barca’s number two keeper Jose Manuel Pinto will likely replace Valdes while he serves out his ban.

(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Mark Meadows)

Related posts:

• Spain keeper Valdes to leave Barcelona in 2014
• Vilanova defends under-fire Valdes
• We must respect Valdes decision to leave, Fabregas says
• Valdes opens door to possible move away from Spain
• Valdes error keeps Real in hunt for Super Cup