Video: What Raul Meireles did to earn an 11-game ban in Turkey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIg8bPILx24

Former Chelsea and Liverpool player Raul Meireles was hit with an 11-game ban today in Turkey. Here’s what he did to get that massive punishment.

Now plying his trade in Fenerbache, Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles has been hit with a huge 11-game ban after being sent off in a recent clash with Galatasaray.

The referee Halis Ozkahya accused Meireles of spitting on him and of using a homophobic gesture towards him.

Meireles, as you can imagine, wasn’t best pleased. The Mirror carries quotes from the player.

"I'm really annoyed at being accused of spitting at the referee. I have an eight-year-old child, can you imagine if kids at school start saying your father spat at a referee? This could ruin my reputation in the eyes of my child.

"I have many gay friends who I deeply respect. The hand gesture I made is directed at the referee caving in to the pressure of the home fans.

"That hand gesture was to tell him he was scared. Look at my hairstyle, what I wear, I'm not a prejudicial person, my hand gesture was in no way, shape or form a homophobic one.

"I don't know what the hand gesture for calling somebody gay is in Turkey but what I did was entirely based around the referee being a coward and bowing to the pressure.

"The referee's accusations are outrageous and defamatory. I will be taking legal action against him to prove my innocence."

Have a look yourself above and while Meireles is obviously not a happy chap an 11 game-ban for this seems a bit steep.