Gareth Bale facing 12-game ban for Real Madrid

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Gareth Bale could be banned for up to 12 games for a gesture he made after scoring a goal in Real Madrid's 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid last weekend.

The Welshman fired home Real's third goal of the game - and his 100th for the club - in the 74th minute of the match at the Wanda Metropolitano last Saturday.

Bale celebrated by making a gesture after the goal, raising a bent arm and hitting it with his other hand.

That gesture is deemed to be an offensive one in Spain, and La Liga have approached the Spanish Football Federation to call for a ban.

"In the celebration of Bale's goal, he waves his right arm to the proximity of his head, in a predictable sign of encouraging provocation to the public, subsequently making a gesture of possible obscene and contemptuous meaning, raising the bent arm and hitting the middle of it with the other hand," read a La Liga statement, via La Sexta.

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

"The possible sanctions for these provocations vary.

"If it occurs, the offender will be sanctioned with suspension of four to twelve games, if the animosity of the public, the suspension will be from one to three parties (games) or for a period of up to one month."

Rather than the 12-game ban, it is much more likely Bale picks up the three-game suspension.

La Liga recently announced a crackdown on goal celebrations that are deemed 'offensive'.