The Disciplinary Commission has chosen not to punish Cagliari” data-scaytid=”1″>Cagliari striker Mauricio Pinilla for unsporting behaviour even after he confessed to “diving” against Inter.
The Disciplinary Commission has chosen not to punish Cagliari striker Mauricio Pinilla for unsporting behaviour even after he confessed to “diving” against Inter.
Many expected the Chilean to be handed a two-match ban after he earned a penalty in the 2-0 victory over the Nerazzurri on Sunday.
“I controlled the ball and changed direction in the box, then when I felt the touch of course I dived,” confessed Pinilla on Sky Sport Italia.
“Whenever you get touched in the box, it is always a penalty, it’s just that the striker has to be smart to earn it.”
Today the Disciplinary Commission released its reasoning for the decision not to punish Pinilla, explaining video evidence showed “there was effectively contact between the two players, as their left knees collided.
“It was a contact of dubious regularity and very small, the effects of which were accentuated by Pinilla due to a habit (correction, bad habit) that is seen by many and varied players on a weekly basis.
“It is therefore conduct that should be criticised, but not the kind that can be called ‘evident simulation’ as in the rules of the sport, as Pinilla’s obvious fall to the ground was still correlated to an initial physical contact with the opponent.
“We cannot evaluate with certainty what effects that contact had, to the exclusion of all reasonable doubt. Therefore, the Disciplinary Commission has decided not to take any action against Pinilla.”
It turns out that Pinilla is suspended for this weekend’s game anyway, as he picked up his eighth yellow card of the season.
Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini also received only a one-match ban for his red card against Napoli. Like Esteban Cambiasso a couple of weeks ago, he was given the benefit of the doubt as the foul was down to poor control rather than intentionally trying to harm an opponent.
Meanwhile, Lazio” data-scaytid=”18″>Lazio have been fined €30,000 for racist chanting and the use of laser pens during the 2-0 home defeat to Juventus” data-scaytid=”19″>Juventus, plus the exhibition of a banner insulting to UEFA President Michel Platini.
Juventus were fined €5,000 for throwing bottles and Roma fined €5,000 for the use of smoke bombs.