December 16 – Italy’s international midfielder Bryan Cristante has been banned for one Serie A game for breaking the country’s strict blasphemy laws following his own goal in Roma’s 5-1 over win over Bologna on Sunday.
Roma were leading 3-0 when Cristante accidentally knocked the ball into his out net. He was subsequently caught on camera voicing his frustrations.
“(Cristante) pronounced a blasphemous expression in the 23rd minute of the first half,” Serie A said in a statement without specifying the nature of the offending remark which will rule the player out of Thursday’s home game with Torino.
“The player in question was clearly framed by the television footage while uttering a blasphemous expression that is identifiable and audible without margin of reasonable doubt.”
Since 2010, the Italian FA have taken disciplinary action against players and coaches heard taking God’s name in vain.
Former Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon has in the past been forced to apologise for uttering the word ‘Dio’ (God) while Udinese’s Italian international Rolando Mandragora has previously also picked up a one-match ban.
And in September 2018, Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini was banned after being caught on camera mouthing the phrase ‘God is a pig’.
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