Italian manager gets four game ban for tackling opposition player to stop counter-attack

Siri, define winning mentality

I don't mind a bit of gamesmanship in football. Simulation does not offend me too much, nor a cynical shirt pull to prevent a counter-attack. But I draw the line at managers getting involved by tackling opposition players.

Catania manager Giuseppe Raffaele disagrees. The Sicilian Serie C side were 2-1 with just seconds remaining in their mid-table clash against Vibonese, when the manager stepped in to tackle an opposition player and earn himself a four match ban in the process.

It began with Catania recovering the ball in their own half and aiming to dribble it as far away from their own goal as possible.

The Catania player is tackled (cleanly, in my opinion) just short of the halfway line and Vibonese begin a counter attack to Catania's initial counter.

Manager Raffaele is evidently fuming at the referee's decision not to award the home side a free kick for the challenge, with his player in apparent pain, still lying on the floor. He then proceeds to step out of his technical area, onto the pitch and tackle the Vibonese player looking to spring forward in attack.

It isn't an overly aggressive tackle, in fact it is cleaner than the first, but it is of course extremely illegal.

The referee shows no hesitation in brandishing a red card to Raffaele, who - to his credit - did not protest and started walking immediately. I must stress, this does not outweigh the fact he entered the field of play to make a tackle. It's still very bad.

Raffaele has now been given a four game ban which, all things considered, seems quite lenient.

https://twitter.com/James_Dart/status/1329549212942471169