Douglas Costa facing three game ban

Juventus winger Douglas Costa is facing a ban of at least three games and a fine of up to €100,000 for spitting on Sassuolo’s Federico Di Francesco.

The Brazilian lost his head toward the end of the Bianconeri’s win yesterday, swinging an elbow at Di Francesco before attempting to headbutt him.

That earned him just a yellow card, but he was sent off when VAR caught him spitting in his opponent’s face.

Douglas Costa will face a lengthy ban when the disciplinary sanctions are released tomorrow, with Gazzetta dello Sport explaining that a spit falls under the remit of violent conduct.

That would incur at least a three game ban, which would see him miss Frosinone away, Bologna at home and Napoli in Turin.

Violent conduct can incur a longer ban though, climbing to five games if it’s considered to be particularly serious.

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La Repubblica notes that Juve appeared to imply some form of provocation, but unless they present evidence to back that up Costa could be fined up to €200,000.

Meanwhile, La Stampa looked at previous cases, noting that Sinisa Mihajlovic got an eight game ban in the Champions League for spitting at Adrian Mutu.

Francesco Totti was given a four game ban for spitting at Euro 2004, while Napoli’s Ezequiel Lavezzi got three games in 2011 for spitting on Aleandro Rosi of Roma.

After television footage was reviewed it was confirmed that Rosi had also been guilty of spitting, and he was given a three match ban.