Ronaldo banned for blasphemy

Italian international Rolando Mandragora has been banned for one Serie A game after making “blasphemous remarks” during his team Udinese’s 1-0 win over Sampdoria at the weekend.

The 21-year-old midfielder was caught on television shouting an insult to the Virgin Mary, while also referring to God as a dog.

The 21-year-old’s “blasphemous expressions” went unnoticed by officials during the match, leading to a review by the Lega Serie A.

The Italian FA said Mandragora was “clearly seen … to make blasphemous remarks, visibly identifiable from reading his lips without any margin for reasonable doubt.”

They acknowledged the Italian international was “cursing without addressing any of those present”.

In Italy, blasphemy is considered among the worst forms of swearing and the former Juventus midfielder will miss next Sunday’s Serie A game against Fiorentina, the Lega Serie A confirmed.

“Mandragora is a good person, the most he deserved was a warning,” said Udinese coach Daniele Prade.

Mandragora — who won the Serie A and Italian Cup with Juventus in 2017 — spent last season on loan to Crotone before signing for Udinese last month.

The player from Naples has one cap for Italy after earning his first call-up under new national coach Roberto Mancini during a friendly loss to France last June.

Mandragora joined Udinese after the Turin club and another Italian club reached an agreement for the transfer of the 20 year old.

January 2016, Juventus confirmed the signing of Mandragora from Genoa. He signed a five-year contract for an initial fee of €6 million, potentially rising to €12 million based on performance.  He spent the rest of the 2015–16 season on loan at provincial Serie B side Pescara. In April 2016 he suffered a fractured metatarsal in his right foot which required surgery. His recovery was hindered due to complications and he was forced to undergo a second surgery that August.

Mandragora returned to Juventus for the 2016–17 season and was given the number 38 shirt. He made his Juventus debut on 23 April 2017, coming on as a substitute for Claudio Marchisio in the 86th minute of a 4–0 home win against his former club Genoa, in Serie A.