Juventus head coach Antonio Conte has received a two-match touchline ban as a result of his angry outburst in the wake of Saturday’s draw with Genoa.
Conte directed a furious tirade at referee Marco Guida when the official declined to award a stoppage-time penalty for a perceived handball by Genoa defender Andreas Granqvist, with the game finishing 1-1.
Director general Giuseppe Marotta also invoked a three-week suspension by questioning Guida’s selection, given the fact the referee hails from Torre Annunziata, a province of Naples, whose Serie A team are Juve’s nearest challengers.
A statement published on legaseriea.it read: “Antonio Conte is disqualified for two games and fined €10,000 for confronting the referee with insulting remarks at the end of the game and repeating them in the changing room shortly afterwards.
“Giuseppe Marotta is banned from pursuing any activity with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) or representing his club until February 18 for challenging the work of the officials and addressing the referee with an intimidating attitude and insulting remarks.”
At the end of the game Conte appeared to shout “shame on you!” at Guida from close range, just moments after the official had rejected Juve appeals for a penalty.
Conte went even further in his post-match press conference, suggesting Guida had acknowledged the foul but had instead declined to award the spot-kick.
“When I hear certain things, ‘shame’ is the least I can say,” he said.
“(The goalline official Andrea) Romeo said it was a penalty. But Guida explained that he didn’t feel up to awarding it. I’ve had enough. I can accept a mistake if someone tells me ‘I didn’t see it’, but not that they just didn’t feel up to it.
“We work hard all week and we want fairness.”
Conte, who has already served a four-month ban for his failure to report match-fixing while in charge of Siena, will now miss games against Chievo and Fiorentina.
The Lega Serie A also handed bans to Juventus defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini for their improper conduct at the end of the game.
Bonucci will miss two games for confronting officials while Chiellini will serve a one-match ban for entering the playing field without permission.
Playing today
Italian Cup, SF (second leg): 20.45 Lazio vs Juventus (first leg: 1-1).