Spalletti and Pisacane handed one-match bans after altercation

Luciano Spalletti, Juventus coach, and his Cagliari counterpart Fabio Pisacane were each handed a one-match suspension on Tuesday after their altercation at the end of their teams’ game on Sunday. Spalletti, who has led Juventus since 30 October 2025, will miss Sunday’s match in Turin against Lazio. Pisacane will be absent for Cagliari’s trip to Monza on Monday.

The final whistle was followed by the customary greeting, but the coaches’ handshake quickly became tense. In the ensuing exchange, Spalletti firmly took Pisacane’s hand, while Pisacane grabbed Spalletti’s other arm. They traded heated words before being separated. Both then received direct red cards. Cagliari and Juventus had drawn 1-1.

The Italian league judge justified Spalletti’s ban by saying he had “adopted a provocative attitude towards the opposing team’s coach, creating a moment of tension among the members of both benches”. Pisacane was suspended for “reacting to the provocative behaviour of the opposing coach, fuelling a moment of tension among the members of both benches”.

After the game, Spalletti played down the incident: “Actually, nothing happened,” he said.