Conte slapped with two-game suspension over referee confrontation

The Italian tactician let his emotions get the better of him during the Serie A game over the weekend and is now facing a heavy punishment.

Antonio Conte has been suspended for two matches for clashing with the referee in Inter Milan’s match against Udinese.

In addition to the touchline ban, Conte has also been fined €20,000 by the Disciplinary Commission, as per Football Italia.

The Italian, in his own words, had a “disagreement over the amount of stoppages” with the match official with his side about to lose crucial points in the Serie A title race.

Inter did end up dropping two points as they were held to a goalless draw by Udinese.

Conte, who was shown a red card, and his assistant Cristian Stellini launched protests against referee Fabio Maresca at the end of the match and he even raised his voice as their altercation continued in the tunnel.

The sporting judge’s report states the head coach’s punishment is a result of ‘having continued to protest vehemently, by loudly uttering disrespectful phrases towards the referee that continued even after the sending off and before leaving the pitch’.

Inter team manager Lele Oriali has also been fined €5,000 for ‘reiterating the protests even after the warning was given, reached the referee in the middle of the pitch and shouted disrespectful sentences’.

Conte will now miss Inter Milan’s Serie A outings against Benevento and Fiorentina.