21-year old Italian midfielder, Rolando Mandragora has been banned for one Serie A game after making “blasphemous remarks” during his team’s 1-0 win over Sampdoria at the weekend.
The midfielder was caught on television shouting an insult to the Virgin Mary, while also referring to God as a dog. His “blasphemous expressions” went unnoticed by officials during the match, leading to a review by the Lega Serie A.
The Italian FA said Mandragora was “clearly seen to make blasphemous remarks, visibly identifiable from reading his lips without any margin for reasonable doubt.”
They acknowledged the Italian international was “cursing without addressing any of those present”.
In Italy, blasphemy is considered among the worst forms of swearing and the former Juventus midfielder will miss next Sunday’s Serie A game against Fiorentina, after Lega Serie A confirmed it had been sent an email regarding the player’s behaviour.
Rolando Mandragora is one of two players to be banned following the second round of matches in Serie A, with Sassulo’s Marlon ruled out for one game after receiving two yellow cards in their 2-2 draw with Cagliari.
The player from Naples has one cap for Italy after earning his first call-up under new national coach Roberto Mancini during a friendly loss to France last June.
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