Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano has been handed a five-match ban by the Lega Calcio's isciplinary committee after throwing his shirt at the referee following his sending-off in Sunday's match against Torino.
Having been booked for over celebrating his 53rd-minute goal, Cassano was sent
off late in the game for using foul and abusive language to referee Nicola
Pierpaoli.
The Bari-born striker then had to be restrained by team-mates from going after
the official but managed to take off his shirt and hurl it at Pierpaoli.
Cassano has also been fined €15,000 by the Lega Calcio.
A statement issued by the disciplinary committee outlined the reasons for the
lengthy suspension.
The statement confirmed Cassano was found guilty of 'unruly behaviour on the
pitch; for having spoken to the referee with a furious reaction which gave way
to his sending off and then his repeated insults; taking his shirt off and
throwing it with contempt towards the match official; for remaining on the pitch
despite being told numerous times to leave the field; for his approach (to the
official) with intimidating remarks'.
Sampdoria have announced they will not appeal against Cassano's punishment.
Last weekend's controversial incident comes at a critical time for Cassano, who
had recently spoken of his hope to seal a permanent move to the Genoa club after
joining on loan from Real Madrid last summer.
Cassano's frequently petulant attitude has meant an often fractious career,
and he fell out of favour at Roma and Real following several high-profile
disagreements with the management at both clubs.
The 25-year-old was offered the chance to resurrect his career at Samp after
being frozen out at the Bernabeu under former coach Fabio Capello, and had
seemingly taken his chance with seven goals in his first 15 games.
He was considered a good outside bet to be selected in Roberto Donadoni's
Italy squad for Euro 2008, but those hopes are now hanging by a thread after
this latest controversy.
In the wake of last weekend's ugly scenes, Sampdoria's general director Beppe
Marotta claimed that Cassano actions were jeopardising his career.
He said: 'Cassano was recovering and doing well but he sometimes oversteps
the mark and that is why he cannot be called a champion despite his
extraordinary technical quality.
'Cassano must understand, even with our help, that his career is at risk by
making these actions.'
Earlier on Tuesday, Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, a former team-mate of
Cassano at Real, revealed that he had been left disappointed by the striker's
actions.
He said: 'I have always defended Antonio but this time it's impossible to do
so. He has made a mistake.
'Antonio has incredible quality, out of the ordinary, but he is as strong as
he is mad.
'The strangest thing of all this is that he is a very nice guy; you will not
hear anyone in Real's changing room speak badly of him.'
