Turin: Champions Juventus were handed a series of bans and fines by Serie A league officials yesterday for displaying aggressive behaviour to a match referee who refused to award a late penalty.
Juve coach Antonio Conte was handed a two-game touchline ban and handed a 10,000 euro fine while the club was fined 50,000 euros for failing to control fans who spat on and lashed out at the match officials.
Juve president Giuseppe Marotta was also banned from carrying out any of his functions until February 18.
Defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, meanwhile, were handed two and one-game bans respectivel,y accompanied by fines of 10,000 and 5,000 euros.
A statement by Serie A’s disciplinary body said: “Juventus are fined 50,000 euros for failing to control fans who spat in the faces and on the clothes of officials as they left the pitch.”
Regarding Conte’s ban, it added: “Conte is banned for two matches for having confronted the referee in an intimidatory manner on the field of play and questioning his decision with a series of derogatory remarks.”
Conte and the entire Juventus team were in uproar at the end of Saturday’s match after referee Marco Giuda refused to award a last-minute penalty despite the ball coming off the arm of Genoa’s Swedish defender Andreas Granqvist during the Serie A match. AFP
