Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 7y

Roma's Kevin Strootman has two-game suspension overturned

The Lega Serie A's disciplinary appeals committee has overturned a two-game ban handed to Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman after hearing the club's appeal.

Strootman, 26, had been banned for two games after television evidence was used to evaluate a clash with Danilo Cataldi in the 2-0 derby win over Lazio last weekend.

The Lega Serie A originally ruled that the Netherlands international had simulated a dive and in doing so, convinced the referee to show Cataldi, who was on the Lazio bench, a red card. Strootman was not punished during the game for the incident, which is why TV evidence was viewed.

Roma immediately launched an appeal to have Strootman available for their crucial fixtures with AC Milan and Juventus, and they were successful on Friday.

In overturning the original sanction, the appeals committee said in a statement: "A simulation has got to be evident, in that the act of simulation is not, in any way, determined by the behaviour of an opposition.

"In this case, the conduct of Cataldi in tugging his shirt first led to the player Strootman's actions, and this behaviour was already sanctioned by the sports judge as one of the reasons which led to the referee to send off the player.

"Furthermore, as correctly pointed out by the appealing club, this sports court could not take any view on the existence of a relationship between the cause and effect of a certain episode of simulation."

Roma have welcomed the ruling, which means they will have their midfielder available for selection this weekend when they face Milan, who are a place behind them in third in Serie A.

"We feel that television evidence is not necessary for an incident like this," Roma general manager Mauro Baldissoni said. "Imagining a heavy rule for simulation and partial simulation would open up a can of worms.

"Anything like this would place in doubt the existing sporting institutions and would put the regularity of the league at risk in everybody's interests."

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