Filipe Luis Suspension Reduced: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis has had his three-match ban for a horror tackle on Barcelona icon Lionel Messi reduced to one game, according to reports.

Sport confirmed the initial punishment has been reduced after the Brazil international's knee-high lunge on the Argentina striker.

Luis was sent off for the tackle during the Rojiblancos recent visit to the Camp Nou, with the Blaugrana prevailing 2-1. 

Sport reported Atletico successfully appealed the initial punishment, and the player will now only miss the forthcoming clash with Eibar at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in La Liga.

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Atleti sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero released a statement on Wednesday defending Luis, and it appears his comments have been fully considered, per Sport:

"

Similar actions should be judged equally and have the same punishment. It can not be that an identical action that is written in the referee's report can be punished with one game in one case and then ours is punishable by three games for Filipe.

Filipe Luis is a player with excellent records, as opposed to a violent player, an athlete. He went to the dispute of a 50-50 ball, touched the ball then later hit the opponent without being able to stop. 

Everyone who has played football knows that there is no misconduct here and this not be judged differently. Three games should serve to punish other actions, not this.

"

Here is a video of the original incident:

Diego Godin was also sent off against Barca, and the defeat saw Diego Simeone's side fall three points behind the Catalans in the race for La Liga glory

Luis has played a key role for Atleti this term since moving back to the Calderon after a torrid time at Chelsea.

The full-back has started 19 league games as Atleti have conceded the fewest goals (10) in the Spanish top flight, according to WhoScored.com, but the reduced ban will certainly aid Simeone's challenge. 

However, many believed the sanctions were justified after the red card, as noted by the Mirror's Ed Malyon:

The reduction of the ban is controversial considering the tackle was certainly dangerous and the player's studs were showing.

Luis is not a character who is often embroiled in controversy or unsavoury incidents, but on this occasion, he is lucky not to have received his full punishment after a bad challenge.