Gilardino handed two-game ban

Fiorentina striker punished for scoring with arm

Last updated: 27th October 2008

Gilardino handed two-game ban

Gilardino: Two-game ban

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Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino has been handed a two-game ban by the Italian football authorities.

Gilardino's goal in Sunday's 3-1 win over Palermo infuriated the home side with replays showing that he used his arm to open the scoring in the 19th minute.

The league's sporting judge said in a statement that television evidence showed the Italy international had deliberately handled when he slid in to score.

The two-game ban has been issued as the league felt former AC Milan player Gilardino was guilty of 'serious unsporting conduct'.

The Sicilian side's president Maurizio Zamparini had already called for the Fiorentina forward to be issued with a five-game ban, with Palermo made even more livid by the fact that Gilardino ran away in celebration.

Zamparini fumed: "He even celebrated, incredible."

Serie A's top scorer will now miss Wednesday's home match with Inter Milan and next Sunday's encounter at Siena.