Italian referee banned for head-butting goalkeeper

Feb 13, 2020 06:00 am

An Italian football referee has been banned for one year after he lost his cool and head-butted a goalkeeper he had sent off earlier this month, Ansa news agency reported on Tuesday.

In a lower league match between Borgo Mogliano and Montottone in Macerata on Feb 1, the referee Antonio Martiniello had given Borgo Mogliano's goalkeeper Matteo Ciccioli his marching orders as the hosts won 3-1.

But Martiniello was not done meting out punishment.

When the pair faced off outside the changing room after the game as the goalkeeper sought an explanation, the referee head-butted Ciccioli, who was taken to hospital to treat his injuries.

Martiniello's ban will not only prevent him from officiating games for the next year, but also from entering the facilities of teams in the top three tiers of Italian football, minor and amateur leagues, and matches involving the Italian national team.

The office of the Macerata police chief said the ban was fully warranted as Martiniello had failed to set an example for youngsters.