Italian Authorities Ban Footballer, Sulley Muntari, After Walking Off The Pitch

Italian authorities have confirmed that Sulley Muntari is being punished for walking off the pitch against Cagliari, after the player claimed he was racially abused during a Serie A game on Sunday.

The Pescara midfielder received two yellow cards from referee Daniele Minelli in the game at Cagilari - for speaking to the crowd after alleging he was racially abused and for walking off the pitch in protest. In normal circumstances, a player would be automatically suspended for his team's next game after receiving two yellow cards, but world footballers' union FIFPro had called for Muntari's yellow cards to be rescinded because of the exceptional circumstances.

However, Serie A's sporting judge has decided that the punishment must stand and Muntari will miss Pescara's home game against Crotone on Sunday.