Gilardino Banned For Two Games

Gilardino gave Fiorentina the lead in the 20th minute of last night's clash at the Stadio Barbera when he bundled the ball into the back of the net with his hand from close range following a left wing cross from Mario Santana.

The Viola went on to win the game 3-1, and after the match there was widespread fury in the Palermo camp, with president Maurizio Zamparini blasting: "We will demand that the disciplinary committee use TV pictures, as he deserves at least a five-game ban. He even had the cheek to celebrate; that's plain incredible.

"Palermo played a good match, but we were clearly robbed, with the referee and the linesman giving a huge contribution. The same thing happened two seasons ago, when Adrian Mutu made a fool of us, hitting the back of the net while one of our players was down injured.

"Is this the same side that advocated fair play and the 'terzo tempo'? Get out of here..."

The disciplinary commission has now moved to ban Gilardino for two games for his act of anti-sporting behaviour. Even though the referee Emidio Morganti failed to notice that Gila had scored with his hand, the TV evidence gathered by the Sporting Judge through Sky, Rai and Mediaset has proved to be his undoing.

The court stated that the handball "was voluntary, intentional and not determined nor conditioned by the Dellafiore who was holding him in the previous moments." Gilardino's act was therefore a "seriously anti-sporting' act.

This punishment could set a dangerous precedent for the future of Italian football. Fiorentina take on Inter this Wednesday in Serie A, a game which Gila will now miss.

It is unclear at the moment whether Fiorentina will appeal.

Anthony Sormani