Thursday 3 September 2015 19:27, UK
Zenit Saint Petersburg coach Andre Villas-Boas has been suspended for six games by the Russian Football Union for striking a match official.
Villas-Boas was sent off during Zenit's 3-1 loss at home to Krylya Sovetov Samara on Saturday, and the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager was seen appearing to swear and butt heads with fourth official Ivan Saraev.
However, in an incident not picked up by the TV coverage, disciplinary commission head Artur Grigoryants told R-Sport that Villas-Boas "left his technical area and hit the fourth official in the chest".
Villas-Boas has refused to comment publicly on the incident, but Grigoryants said the coach apologized to the match officials on duty at Saturday's game, admitting "he had a temporary loss of control, and said he didn't have the right to behave like that."
The Portuguese coach's suspension will end on October 30, meaning he misses a game against league leaders CSKA Moscow on September 12.
The ban comes as Zenit struggle on the field, sitting third in the Russian league, six points adrift of CSKA, following defeats in two of their last three league games.
Villas-Boas, who won the Russian title last season in his first full season with Zenit, has persistently criticised the Russian football authorities over issues such as fan racism and poor-quality pitches.
He has hinted at a possible exit from Zenit, saying last week that he wanted to leave the club at the end of last season but the management would not allow him to go.
