The Italian Football Federation (Fedecalcio) on Thursday upheld a three-game ban given to AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic meaning he will miss Saturday's crunch title-clash against Juventus.
Ibrahimovic was banned for three games after being sent-off against Napoli on February 5 for slapping Salvatore Aronica across the face.
Milan appealed the decision hoping to have one match taken off the ban, thus clearing him to play against Juve this weekend.
But that has now been rejected, sparking Milan's ire.
"The Federal Justice Court's decision is unjust because they have applied a punishment due for violent acts to an act that wasn't violent," said a Milan statement.
"This is a serious judicial mistake."
Last year Milan appealed another Ibrahimovic ban for violent conduct -- when he hit an opponent in the ribs -- and won, earning a one-game reduction, only for the big Swede to be sent-off on his return to action for abusing a linesman.
Source: AFP
