Napoli coach handed two-match ban for insulting Mancini

Ian Watson
Maurizio Sarri Napoli

Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri has escaped with a two-match Coppa Italia ban for “highly insulting” comments towards Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini.

Sarri escaped a longer suspension after Lega Serie A made no mention of homophobic insults in its disciplinary ruling.

Sarri could have faced a four-month ban if found guilty of homophobic remarks, having been accused by Mancini of yelling ”faggot” during a furious touchline confrontation between the pair during Napoli’s Coppa Italia quarter-final loss to Inter on Tuesday .

Sarri, whose Napoli side are the Serie A leaders, was also fined 20,000 euros (£15,300).

Napoli were beaten 2-0 by Inter, so Sarri will serve his ban next season.

Mancini, who was sent to the stands during the match, was fined 5,000 euros (£3,800) for confronting his opposite number and being “disrespectful” to the fourth official.

Mancini said in quotes reported by the Gazzetta dello Sport after the game: “Men like him shouldn’t be in the world of football. He is 60 years old and must be ashamed.”

Sarri told Rai Sport he could not recall exactly what he said, adding: ”What I said wasn’t at all directed towards Mancini and once the game ended then he should have dropped it there. I even reached out to him at the end of the game to apologise and he should have accepted it.”

Napoli also released a statement on Thursday greeting the news that the ruling confirmed “the absence of racist and homophobic connotations in Sarri’s words”.