Napoli player Gianluca Gaetano has received a two-match ban after he made a private joke about match-fixing in Serie B while playing for Cremonese.
The 22-year-old was on loan at Cremonese at the time, a side that would go on to earn promotion into Serie A by finishing second in Serie B.
Ahead of a match against Como, played on May 6, Gaetano sent a WhatsApp message to his friend and Como player Vittorio Parigini.
“Hey will you leave us 3 points on Friday?” read the message, along with two laughing emojis.
Parigini and the authorities did not find it funny and Gaetano has been given a two-match ban as well as a €4,500 fine.
Cremonese were also fined €5,000 for the incident.
That match ended 2-1 for visitors Cremonese, including a goal scored on a Gaetano assist for Samuel Di Carmine.
Gaetano has three caps for Italy at Under-21 level and is a product of the Napoli youth academy, who was on loan at Cremonese last season.