Napoli appeal Allegri's two-match ban, aiming at Juventus game

Napoli will appeal the two-match ban given to head coach Massimiliano Allegri. The club said so in a statement on its website: "SSC Napoli, following the request for access to the documents, announces that it will appeal the two-match suspension imposed on mister Massimiliano Allegri."

The club's reasoning is simple. Allegri will miss Wednesday's game at Monza (20:45 CET, 19:45 UK, 14:45 ET) in any case, because an appeal cannot change that. But if the ban were cut to one match, he would be back on the bench in Turin against Juventus on 1 November. That is the game the club is acting for.

An uphill appeal

It will not be easy. The judge's reasons are heavy. Allegri allegedly directed "an insulting expression at the match officials" in the 45th minute of the second half. In the dressing-room area, according to the match report, he also allegedly adopted "an aggressive attitude towards an official of the opposing team".

So this is not only a charge over a heat-of-the-moment gesture on the pitch. The report also covers what happened after the final whistle.

The statement also leaves out a phrase said in the tunnel about Roma's Champions League place. That could end up in separate proceedings before the federal prosecutor, who is assessing a file. Even if the appeal succeeds, the Allegri case would not be closed.

Landucci, and a question we carry with us

Marco Landucci, the assistant who has followed Allegri for years, takes the bench on Wednesday. He is not an improvised stand-in: he often led training in pre-season and knows the coach's methods and demands. If the ban stays at two matches, he will also be in charge in Turin.

An uncomfortable question remains. Napoli are tenth with 11 points after eight rounds, have conceded seven goals in the last three games and take a defence that needs rebuilding to Monza. Right now the club is spending energy to get its coach back on the bench at the Stadium.

That may be legitimate. But we would like to see the same determination applied to the problems the pitch showed us on Saturday, when a 2-0 lead became a 3-3 draw.