Rome (AFP)
The penalty fell on Monday for Franck Ribery: he was suspended for three matches after pushing a referee-assistant at the end of the match lost with Fiorentina against Lazio Rome (2-1), Sunday night.
Ribery had been excluded after the final whistle for his behavior. He approached "threateningly" the assistant referee and uttered "disrespectful words" against him, before pushing him, said the judges of the Italian Football Federation in their decision.
The sanction of sports judges is accompanied by a fine of 20,000 euros for the new star of Fiorentina.
Replaced in the 74th minute, Ribery was furious with his coach Vincenzo Montella, and the TV footage repeatedly showed him scorning the technician and very agitated on the sideline.
But his anger was not over at the end of the match and, in the evening, new images showed the former Bayern Munich player pushing twice one of the assistant referees on the way to the locker room.
The website of the Italian Football League confirms that the French received a red card for this gesture. According to the Italian media, Ribery faces four suspension matches.
This incident comes as Ribery had a remarkable start to the season with Fiorentina, decisive and convincing on the pitch and very comfortable with Italian fans and media.
© 2019 AFP