Bans For Zago, Davids, Montero, Balleri And Savino
Tuesday 25th September 2001
TV evidence has brought Roma defender Antonio Zago a three-match ban for elbowing Fiorentina star Paolo Vanoli, while Juventus pair Edgar Davids and Paolo Montero must sit out two Serie A rounds for their part in the brawl at Lecce on Saturday.
The Italian football federation also handed out two-match bans to David Balleri and Alberto Savino of Lecce, who joined the scrap sparked by Montero's attack on goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti, for which the Uruguayan was sent off.
The footage showed Davids punching Balleri in the melee, meaning the Dutchman faces a spell on the Serie A sidelines to go with his Champions' League suspension for collecting two yellow cards against Celtic.
He has only just returned from a four-month ban for nandrolone abuse.
Davids was also seen gesticulating behind the referee's back, as was Zago, who has since apologised for his assault on Vanoli and promised to accept his punishment with grace.
"I'm very sorry and I'm ready to pay for my mistake," said the defender, whose father is seriously ill. The Brazilian was withdrawn at half-time by coach Fabio Capello, who said his player "looked distracted".
And Zago confirmed: "It's a difficult time for me because of some personal problems. But I was wrong and I will accept all the consequences. I have to find a better way to react. I have my job and my family and I must be stronger mentally."
This is not the first time Zago has courted controversy. He was attacked by Lazio fans after spitting at Simone Inzaghi during a derby and banned for four games for spitting at Boavista's Rogeiro during a Uefa Cup match last season.
A Uefa press release described the incident as "grossly unsporting and repugnant".
