Fiorentina released a damning statement of their “astonishment and anger” after Mauro Zarate’s appeal was rejected.
The striker was sent off during the game against Inter last month and handed a three-match ban for grabbing his opponent by the back of the neck.
Today the Disciplinary Commission rejected Fiorentina’s appeal, so he will have to miss Friday’s showdown with Roma for third place.
Fiorentina released a damning statement of their “astonishment and anger” after Mauro Zarate’s appeal was rejected.
The striker was sent off during the game against Inter last month and handed a three-match ban for grabbing his opponent by the back of the neck.
Today the Disciplinary Commission rejected Fiorentina’s appeal, so he will have to miss Friday’s showdown with Roma for third place.
“We learned with astonishment and anger the decision made to reject our appeal for the reduction of the ban to our player Mauro Zarate,” read a club statement.
“The appeal presented by Fiorentina was based on the correct interpretation of the referee’s report, as in previous similar situations – even more serious ones – the ban could be reduced from three games to two.
“We are also incredulous at no consideration being given to the fact Zarate’s gesture came after serious provocation (both verbal and physical) by four different players who circled him, pushed and struck him (prompting the linesman to intervene to protect our player).
“These are facts that if in general are not and cannot be used to justify ‘reactions’ (even if in this case it was a gesture of ‘defence’ from our player), should’ve been used to put everything into the right emotional context.
“We consider that the sanction for Zarate is absolutely excessive and disproportionate, not to mention completely different to the criteria now followed by the sporting justice system.
“We therefore hope that in future there is more care from everyone and above all uniformity of judgment.”