Massimiliano Allegri could be forced to watch Napoli’s Serie A trip to Juventus from the stands. The Italian was handed a two-match suspension and a €10,000 fine on Monday after being sent off during Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Roma, with Serie A’s sporting judge imposing the ban a day later.
A former Juventus manager across two spells, Allegri now faces his old club in Turin on Sunday for the first time as Napoli coach.
Napoli moved within hours of the ruling. The club confirmed its appeal in a short Monday afternoon statement: “SSC Napoli announces that, having requested access to the relevant documents, the club will lodge an appeal against the two-match ban given to Massimiliano Allegri.”
The hearing window before Sunday
Napoli’s lawyer, Mattia Grassani, told LaPresse the paperwork went in as soon as the ruling landed and called the sanction too harsh.
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“The appeal is likely to be heard between Thursday and Friday. This means that, should the ban be reduced, manager Allegri could take to the pitch for the match against Juventus,” Grassani said to LaPresse.
A reduction would clear him for the Juventus trip but still keep him out of Wednesday’s away fixture at Monza.
What the sporting judge cited
The ruling listed an insulting remark toward officials in the 90th minute, a seriously disrespectful comment in the dressing-room area after the final whistle, and aggressive conduct toward a Roma executive.
Allegri was dismissed after Leonardo Balerdi’s late Roma equaliser, a goal he believed should have been disallowed. He removed his jacket, walked away from the technical area and had to be restrained by his staff on his return.
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He disputed the dismissal in an interview with DAZN Italia, carried by Yahoo Sports.
“The fourth official called the referee and got me sent off, but I said absolutely nothing,” Allegri told DAZN Italia.
He also complained of inconsistent enforcement, saying other coaches move onto the pitch without being punished.
A mid-table reunion
Juventus, now coached by Luciano Spalletti, and Napoli have both struggled this season. According to Yahoo Sports, Napoli sit 10th with 11 points after eight matches, 11 adrift of leaders Inter.
The appeal is expected to be heard within the next 72 hours. Kick-off in Turin is on Sunday, 1 November.
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