Napoli coach Allegri handed two-match ban over outbursts in Roma clash

Massimiliano Allegri (second from right) will have to watch from the stands as Napoli travels to Monza and Juventus. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri has been suspended for two matches, Serie A’s sports judge announced on Monday, following abusive comments directed at match officials and an aggressive attitude towards a member of AS Roma’s staff during Saturday’s 3-3 home draw.

Allegri was shown a red card soon after Leonardo Balerdi netted a late equaliser for Roma. The coach, who felt a foul had been committed in the build up, reacted angrily when VAR upheld the goal, and he was sent off with a straight red.

Along with the ban, the manager has been fined GBP 10,000 (USD 11,200). He will sit out Napoli’s Serie A trips to Monza on Wednesday and Juventus on Sunday, as his 10th-placed side try to turn its fortunes around, having won just one of its last four league games.

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The disciplinary authority said in a decision published on the league’s website that Allegri made an “abusive remark towards the match officials” and later, in the changing room, “adopted an aggressive attitude towards an official of the opposing team.”

“Offences (were) noted by the fourth official (Juan Luca Sacchi) and the referee (Andrea Colombo), and the latter by officials from the Federal Prosecutor’s Office,” the sports judge added.

In a post-match interview with DAZN Italia, Allegri denied abusing the officials. “The fourth official called the referee and got me sent off but I said absolutely nothing,” he said.