Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino has been banned for
two matches for scoring a goal with his arm in Sunday's 3-1 win at
Palermo, the Italian league said on Monday.
The league's sporting judge said in a statement that after
reviewing television evidence, it was clear the Italy forward had
deliberately used his arm when he slid in for the opening goal in
the 19th minute.
The statement said the act was punishable because it was
"serious unsporting conduct".
Palermo were furious that the goal was allowed to stand and even
more livid that Gilardino ran away to celebrate.
"Gilardino deserves a five-game ban. He even celebrated,
incredible," the Sicilian side's president Maurizio Zamparini told
reporters before the announcement.
Former AC Milan forward Gilardino, top scorer in Serie A this
term with seven goals, will miss Wednesday's home game with
champions Inter Milan and next Sunday's match at Siena.
Post-match use of video evidence often leads to soccer players
being banned for bad tackles or violent incidents which were missed
by the referee. However, it is rare to punish a player for handball
using replays.