Serie A Matchday 21: Delayed Kickoffs And Pyrotechnics, Disciplinary Decisions

Serie A’s latest round of fixtures delivered a weekend of tight contests and notable upsets, followed by a raft of disciplinary decisions from the league’s Sports Judge.

The second matchday of the second half of the season was highlighted by Cagliari’s surprise 1–0 home victory over Juventus and Como’s emphatic 3–0 win away to Lazio. Fiorentina claimed a 2–1 success at Bologna, while Roma continued their push up the table with a 2–0 victory at Torino. Inter edged Udinese 1–0 on the road, Milan defeated Lecce by a single goal, and Napoli maintained their momentum with a 1–0 win over Sassuolo. Three matches ended level, with Cremonese and Hellas Verona drawing 0–0, Parma held by Genoa, and Pisa earning a 1–1 draw against Atalanta.

Off the pitch, Sports Judge Gerardo Mastrandrea confirmed the disciplinary measures arising from the round. Several clubs, including Bologna, Cagliari, Milan, Inter and Roma, avoided sanctions despite the use of pyrotechnics by supporters, with mitigating circumstances taken into account. However, Milan were fined €10,000 for unjustifiably delaying kick-off by around two minutes, while Bologna and Lecce were each fined €5,000 after their supporters failed to observe a minute’s silence. Udinese received a €5,000 fine for insulting chants directed at an opposing player, and Cagliari were fined €3,000 after plastic bottles were thrown onto the pitch.

On the sporting side, Lazio’s Danilo Cataldi, Bologna’s Juan Miranda Gonzalez and Genoa’s Leo Skiri Ostigard were each handed a one-match suspension after reaching the threshold of five yellow cards. A long list of players were cautioned for various offences, including protests against match officials and unsporting conduct, while Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz was booked and fined €2,000 for simulation in the penalty area.

Disciplinary action also extended to the benches and boardrooms. Sassuolo coach Fabio Grosso received a caution for the third time this season, while Juventus director François Modesto was fined €10,000 for making disrespectful remarks towards the referee in the dressing room after the match.

All fines will be charged directly to the clubs’ Serie A league accounts, as the competition moves into another decisive phase of the season.

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