Balotelli Receives A Three-Match Ban For Insulting Referee.

Mario Balotelli has been banned for three matches for using “intimidating and insulting” words to the referee during AC Milan’s 2-1 loss to Napoli.

The Rosonerri striker was sent off at the final whistle after clashing with Napoli’s Valon Behrami and arguing with the match official Luca Banti.

In addition to the one-match ban, he was given an additional two game for “directing insulting and intimidating expressions to the referee at the time of the sending off,” the Italian League confirmed on Monday.

The former Manchester City player missed a penalty for the first time in his career before netting in stoppage time in the home defeat

.

Balotelli Missed a Penalty for the First Time in His Career, Had an Appeal for Another Ignored and Scored in Added Time in the Napoli Defeat.

The Serie A league body also ordered Milan to close the Curva Sud stand of the San Siro Stadium for the next home game against Sampdoria as punishment for racist chanting by supporters witnessed during the match.

The Milan cub, which presently lies 11th in the table after taking four points from their opening five fixtures, may decide to appeal against the ban.

Should they fail with a bid to overturn the punishment, Balotelli will miss the matches against Bologna, Sampdoria and Juventus.

Napoli led through Uruguayan defender Miguel Brito in the sixth minute before summer signing Gonzalo Higuain doubled scores eight minutes after the interval.

The Naples side’s goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, saved Balotelli’s penalty in the 61st minute but the 23-year-old Italian would go on to net a consolatory goal in added time with a wonderful 20-yard curling shot.