Torino coach Ivan Juric could face a lengthy ban after he made a ‘threatening gesture’ and phrase towards Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano.
The tension had been building throughout the match, fuelled by the approach of referee Matteo Marchetti, escalating inevitably after Samuele Ricci was harshly shown a second yellow card for dissent.
It came to a head in the final moments of regular time when Italiano protested at a free kick, prompting an angry response from Juric.
Torino team manager Marco Pellegri dived in to keep the two men separated, but Juric still managed to make what was described as a ‘threatening’ gesture towards Italiano and shouted a phrase that Sky Sport Italia refused to repeat.
La Repubblica noted it was a ‘throat-slitting’ gesture united with the phrase: “I’ll cut your throat.”
It was all noted by the fourth official and members of the FIGC whose job it is to write up reports and help impose punishment on coaches.
Juric went only a few metres away to watch the rest of the match from the stands, with Torino supporters making room for him.
Torino President Urbano Cairo seemed to realise that something very serious was happening, as he quickly got to the touchline and tried to reassure Italiano after the final whistle.
Ironically, Juric was already one yellow card away from a touchline ban anyway and had already been booked for dissent before the red card.
This could all add up to a lengthy touchline ban for the Croatian coach.
Torino-Fiorentina, Juric viene espulso e minaccia Italiano: “Ti taglio la gola” https://t.co/e8eJHloXf5
— Repubblica Sport (@SportRepubblica) March 2, 2024
I was watching a Cage Fight in Torino when suddenly a football match broke out…