At the conclusion of AC Milan’s thrilling and contentious 2-2 draw at Lecce, Olivier Giroud hurled insults at referees, earning him a two-game suspension.
Following AC Milan’s thrilling and contentious 2-2 draw with Lecce, Olivier Giroud began hurling insults at referees, earning him a two-game suspension, Serie A said on Tuesday. At the Stadio Via del Mare on Saturday afternoon, France striker Giroud was sent off in stoppage time for making “abusive expressions” towards referee Rosario Abisso after receiving a first-booking for unruly behaviour. The eight-time goal scorer this season, Giroud, was then given a straight red card and will now miss the home games against Frosinone and Fiorentina following the international break.
Shortly after Giroud was sent off, Roberto Piccoli scored what appeared to be an unbelievable long-range goal to deny Lecce a miraculous comeback from a two-goal deficit. This put Abisso at the focus of debate.
Nevertheless, the goal was ruled out because Piccoli stepped on Malick Thiaw’s foot prior to the ball being delivered.
That move infuriated Lecce’s players and coaching staff as well as the once-delirious supporters and club president Saverio Sticchi Damiani.
For “intimidatory behaviour towards match officials” and making threats against them in the changing rooms following the game, Saverio Sticchi Damiani has been suspended until December 4.
Subsequently, he hinted at a plot by accusing Abisso and the VAR officials of “splitting hairs” in order to exclude the goal.
In addition, CEO Sandro Mencucci was placed on leave until November 27th, while the club’s sporting director Stefano Trinchera received a fine of 10,000 euros ($10,900) and a three-match match ban for similar violations worsened by “blasphemy”.
Milan was only spared a loss, though, as Stefano Pioli’s team trailed league leaders and nearby rivals Inter Milan by eight points.
