Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi banned for three games after punching opponent in the face 
Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi has been handed a retrospective three-match ban for punching Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi on Saturday night. The Italy vice-captain's clash with Icardi during a goalless Serie A draw in Rome
was not spotted by referee Mauro Bergonzi but,
after reviewing video footage, the Lega Serie A has issued the ban. A Lega statement confirmed the "punch to the face" had not been detected by match officials
and after taking De Rossi's "deliberate" demeanour into account, deemed the foul to be violent conduct.
The 30-year-old will now
miss games against Napoli, Udinese and Chievo while his club Roma bid to catch leaders Juventus -
who hold an 11-point advantage - over the season run-in.
De Rossi was on Sunday
omitted from the 26-man squad Italy coach Cesare Prandelli selected to face Spain in Wednesday's friendly in Madrid.
The Azzurri boss applies a strict code of ethics to his players and previously declined to include De Rossi in an Italy squad in November 2012
after the midfielder punched Lazio captain Stefano Mauri. Inter defender Juan Jesus was also handed a retrospective
three-match ban after the Lega reviewed footage of him punching Roma counterpart Alessio Romagnoli. Referee Bergonzi did not see the incident.
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2014-03-03/roma-midfielder-daniele-de-rossi-banned-for-three-games-after-punching-opponent-in-the-face/
