Ezequiel Lavezzi Faces Three-Match Ban For Spitting

Ezequiel Lavezzi Faces Three-Match Ban For Spitting

Although Napoli triumphed 2-0 against Roma on Saturday to keep their scudetto hopes alive thanks to a brace by Edinson Cavani, their victory came at a cost. Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi has earned himself a three match ban for 'spitting' at Aleandro Rosi (the footage of the incident is somewhat* dubious). The first-half spitting incident was the capper for feisty match which featured nine yellow cards along with a few more phantom ones, which might have seen both Andrea Dossena and Marco Casetti sent off for second, third, and fourth bookable offences had the referee been a little less lenient.

Anyway, the purported exchange of bodily fluids between Lavezzi and Rosi (who was definitely not an innocent party in the whole affair) has earned the former a three match ban, meaning that he'll miss Napoli's critical trip to the San Siro to square off against league leaders AC Milan. Lavezzi is key to Napoli's a three-pronged attack, and although the club's purchase of Guiseppe Mascara has given them some attacking cover life without their Argentine wizard up front.

*Somewhat being stretched to its most strenuous limits here.