Gianluigi Buffon Handed One-game Ban For Blasphemy

 Juventus goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon has been handed a one-match ban for Blasphemy, the Italian Federal Court of Appeal has ruled.

 

The veteran Italian goalkeeper, 43, was alleged to have shouted 'Porco Dio!', which translates as 'god is a pig', towards Juventus team-mate Manolo Portanova.

 

He was initially given a €5,000 euros (£4,260) fine over an incident that took place during a Serie A clash against Parma on December 19 last year but escaped a ban.

 

The goalkeeper's alleged comment was not initially proven by the Italian authorities due to a lack of clear audio but the FIGC's Court of Appeal upheld the Federal Prosecutor's appeal and imposed a ban.

 

The punishment means Buffon is ruled out of the Turin derby with Torino on Saturday April 3. 

 

Back in 2010, the 'Blashphemy Law' was introduced and a number of players in Serie A have previously been caught out. 

 

In December 2020, Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante received a one-match ban for using a blasphemous phrase during a 5-1 win over Bologna that was picked up by television camera. 

 

In 2019, Sassuolo player Francesco Magnanelli and Parma's Matteo Scozzarella, now at Monza, were also punished for a similar offence.

 

And in 2018, Juventus player Rolando Mandragora was also penalised under the blasphemy laws.