Massimiliano Allegri has been handed a two-match suspension and a 10,000-euro fine following his late sending-off in Naples’ 3-3 draw against AS Roma in Serie A.
A Chaotic Finale at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
The disciplinary sanction, announced on Monday, stems from insults directed at the officiating crew during the 45th minute of the second half. Authorities also cited subsequent disrespectful remarks in the locker room and aggressive conduct toward an opposing staff member at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The drama unfolded in Campanie as Naples twice surrendered leads against Roma. Goals from Frank Anguissa and Scott McTominay were cancelled out by Matias Soulé and a late double from Leonardo Balerdi. The visitors claimed a point after Balerdi entered the match with 30 minutes remaining to score twice, while the hosts had earlier built a 2-0 advantage by the 48th minute.
Allegri Defends Conduct After Red Card
Allegri was dismissed for vehement protests following Balerdi’s equalizer. He argued to DAZN Italia that the fourth official had instigated his red card despite him not directing abuse at the referee. Defending his touchline conduct by pointing out his history of heavy fines, Allegri stated that his actions did not warrant an expulsion.
Reporting highlighted subsequent claims regarding heated exchanges in the tunnel after the final whistle, where Allegri allegedly shouted remarks concerning Roma’s Champions League qualification from the previous season. When questioned about the tunnel incident by TuttoMercatoWeb, Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini remained diplomatic, stating he had not heard the remarks firsthand. Meanwhile, Allegri maintained that his tactical philosophy remains aggressively oriented toward attack this season, despite his team conceding six goals across two matches in all competitions this week.
SSC Napoli Fights Back With Official Appeal
The SSC Napoli management moved quickly to challenge the ruling from the Lega Serie A. According to an official club statement, the organization requested access to the disciplinary documents and confirmed its intention to file an immediate appeal to overturn or reduce the suspension. Despite the club’s pushback, the penalty leaves the squad facing a critical stretch without their manager on the touchline.
High-Stakes Fixtures Await From the Stands
As the suspension currently stands, Allegri will miss two crucial domestic fixtures. He will be absent from the technical area for Wednesday’s league encounter against Monza, followed by a return fixture against Juventus on Sunday. Naples currently sits 10th in the Serie A standings with 11 points from eight matches, trailing league leaders Inter by 11 points after suffering recent domestic setbacks. Following his departure from Milan, Allegri took the reins at Naples this summer with a three-year contract, succeeding Antonio Conte, after his spell at AC Milan ended following a failure to qualify for the Champions League.
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