Parma defender Fernando Couto was banned for three matches by the Italian league Tuesday for spitting at an opponent.
The incident with Livorno forward Erjon Bogdani occurred during Parma's 3-2 win Sunday.
Couto will miss games with Palermo, Siena and Juventus.
13 October 2007
Ex-Italy boss Marcello Lippi has refused to rule out a sensational return to the Azzurri hotseat and admits he is looking to resume his coaching career.
The Viareggio-born tactician led Italy to World Cup glory in Germany last summer before stepping down from his post.
He was replaced by the inexperienced Roberto Donadoni and things haven't gone too smoothly for the ex-Livorno boss, with the Azzurri facing a struggle to qualify for Euro 2008.
The Italian media have speculated who would replace Donadoni were he to resign or be sacked in the future and Lippi's name has been banded about.
'I will leave all doors open,' Lippi said. 'I have learned in this world that you can never say never. However, I do hope that things go right for the national side tonight [against Georgia] and then in the European Championships themselves. I'm ready to lead a club side now. If a serious club with a serious squad and serious project came in for me then I would be ready. I really want to start working at certain levels again and it doesn't matter where, whether in Italy or abroad.'
Lippi is one of the modern greats of the managerial world, having also led Juventus to five Scudetti, one Champions League, and one Intercontinental crown during his two spells at the club.
08 October 2007
Ex-Livorno striker Cristiano Lucarelli is refusing to rule out a return to the peninsula as rumours that he is unsettled at Shakhtar Donetsk intensify.
The 32-year-old was the key player in Livorno's overachievement after the Labronici's return to Serie A in 2003-04 and hit 92 goals in 146 games for his hometown club.
After relations soured with the volatile Ultras and fiery President Aldo Spinelli, Lucarelli opted to move to Ukraine in the summer, but there have been suggestions that he isn't at home away from Italy.
'I won't close any doors,' the No 99 told Domenica Stadio on Italia 1. 'I had thought I'd stay at Livorno until the end of my career, but things didn't work out like that. The only thing I do know is that I won't be returning to Livorno to become President as Spinelli is the right man.'
Sources had suggested that Lucarelli was unhappy with the squad rotation system at Dontesk, but he concluded by stressing that he was content with his role.
'It's a totally different adventure,' he stated. 'The Champions League is the main motivation because we have already won 10 out of 11 in the League. The squad is divided in two – one team for the championship and one for the cup competitions. I feel some nostalgia when I return to Italy, but now I'm back to thinking about the job at hand.'
06 October 2007
As Nelson Dida's own teammates turn against him for his Glasgow theatrics, AC Milan are looking at immediate alternatives – Gianluca Pagliuca and Angelo Peruzzi.
The Brazilian shot-stopper had already been a controversial figure within the club, as the fans never quite forgave his long drawn-out contract renewal saga last year and repeatedly jeered him at San Siro this season.
His dreadful performance in the 2-1 defeat to Celtic – where he was at fault for the two goals and then appeared to feign injury after a fan confronted him – could be the final straw.
This week both Kaka and defender Massimo Oddo have publicly criticised Dida's behaviour in that incident, when he was stretchered off clutching an ice-pack to his head.
'Dida is going through a tough time,' said Oddo. 'He didn't behave appropriately, but he realises what he has done and I don't think it will ever happen again.'
He could risk a Champions League ban for his theatrics, so Milan are looking elsewhere for an immediate reinforcement.
Until the January transfer window opens, they can only sign players who are out of contract and so the choice has come down to two golden oldies.
Peruzzi retired from football in the summer, rejecting pleas from Lazio to continue for another year, but it is reported today that Milan director Ariedo Braida has called to ask about his fitness levels.
Some sources even suggested Peruzzi was spotted in the city of Milan to discuss contract terms.
'At the moment I am fine like this, as I do not miss football,' Peruzzi told Radio Deejay. 'Having said that, if Milan called me I certainly wouldn't say no.'
Another new rumour comes from someone who has no intention of retiring, despite being left without a club this season.
Pagliuca's deal with Ascoli expired and he has been waiting for a suitable opportunity to continue his career.
He would become the latest in a long line of former Inter players to cross the city divide and with 592 Serie A appearances under his belt is still capable of catching Milan's Paolo Maldini on 600.
These would be stop-gap solutions until January, when a new goalkeeper capable of entering the Champions League squad came into the picture.
While Christian Abbiati could return early from his loan spell at Atletico Madrid, a more likely candidate is Livorno's Marco Amelia – currently the Italy number two behind Gianluigi Buffon.
