January 2 – Under-fire Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has been given a one-game ban for his antics during Sunday’s derby defeat.
The ex-Manchester City manager was dismissed for dissent as Inter lost 3-0 to fierce rivals AC Milan to put a dent in their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Mancini lost his cool after his side were denied a penalty, Serie A’s disciplinary tribunal ruling he had made “disrespectful expressions” toward the match officials, as well as an “insulting epithet” directed at the fourth official and an “insulting gesture” toward supporters.
He also used offensive language towards a television presenter during an interview after the match but that issue was not mentioned in the tribunal’s report.
Inter have not won any of their past four league games and lie fourth in the Serie A table, nine points behind leaders Napoli with 16 games remaining.
Last week, Mancini was involved in an ugly verbal spat with Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri whom he labelled a “racist” after the pair clashed on the touchline towards the end of the Italian Cup quarterfinal first leg.
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