The Napoli manager, Maurizio Sarri, has been given a two-game ban and a €20,000 fine for the homophobic insults he aimed at the Internazionale manager Roberto Mancini during their Italian Cup quarter-final.
Mancini became embroiled in a furious confrontation with his Napoli counterpart during the game on Tuesday night, which the Milan side won 2-0 after goals from Stevan Jovetic and Adem Ljajic.
Afterwards a clearly furious Mancini told Rai TV: “People like him do not belong in football. He used racist words. I stood up to ask about the five minutes being added on and Sarri shouted ‘poof’ and ‘faggot’ at me. I would be proud to be that if he is what’s considered a man.
“People like him should not be in football. He is 60 years old. The fourth official heard but didn’t say anything. He came to see me in the changing room to apologise but he should really be ashamed of himself.”
Mancini, who was sent off towards the end of the game for remonstrating with the Napoli bench, was fined €5,000 for confronting Sarri, and for being “disrespectful” to the fourth official after the match.
Sarri denied being homophobic, adding: “I was just irritable … I was not discriminating against anyone. If I did indeed use those words, then I apologise to the gay community.”
