Juve lose appeals on fine, player bans
Serie A leaders Juventus on Friday lost their appeals against a hefty fine and player bans, with only club president Giuseppe Marotta gaining any satisfaction from the Italian league's disciplinary bosses.
The reigning champions were sanctioned heavily last week for displaying aggressive behaviour towards a match referee who refused to award a late penalty in a recent 1-1 draw at home to Genoa.
Juve coach Antonio Conte was handed a two-game ban and a €10,000 fine while the club was fined 50 000 euros for failing to control fans who spat on and lashed out at the match officials.
Club president Marotta was also banned from his official duties until February 18, while defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini were given two and one-game bans, accompanied by fines of 10 000 and 5 000 euros respectively.
The Turin giants had appealed the 50 000-euro fine and Bonucci's two-game ban but both appeals were rejected, according to ANSA news agency.
However, ANSA added that Marotta's suspension was reduced on appeal and he can return to work on February 10, but that Juventus had decided not to appeal against Conte's touchline ban.
It means the coach, who only returned to the touchline in December after serving a four-month suspension for his alleged role in a match-fixing affair while at former club Siena, will miss Saturday's home game against Fiorentina.
Juve sit top of Serie A with a three-point lead over second-placed Napoli, who travel to Lazio in Saturday's late game.
