Mandragora hit with blasphemy ban

Udinese midfielder Rolando Mandragora has received a one-match for blaspheming during last round's Serie A match against Sampdoria.

The 21-year-old's "blasphemous expressions" went unnoticed by officials during the match but were caught on camera, leading to a review by the Lega Serie A.

In Italy, blasphemy is considered among the worst forms of swearing, which is why football authorities are very strict about it for players, officials and anyone representing the sport in the public eye.

The Serie A stated today that it had received an email “regarding the conduct of the player Rolando Mandragora” and, after reviewing the television footage, concluded he "used blasphemous expressions in the 48th minute of the second half” against Sampdoria.

They acknowledge the Italian international was “cursing without addressing any of those present”, but he was “clearly caught on camera" and his expressions were "identifiable beyond a reasonable doubt by lip reading”.