AC Milan have appealed Mario Balotelli's three-game ban after the striker directed a volley of abuse at a match official on Sunday.
Balotelli picked up his fourth booking of the season during the 2-2 draw against Fiorentina to earn an automatic one-match ban. The league have since confirmed two further matches have been added for the Italy international's actions at the end of the match, when the January signing from Manchester City directed insults at one of the assistant referees.
The ban rules Balotelli out of the meetings with Napoli, Juventus and Catania - crucial matches in Milan's bid to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League - and the club reacted by announcing they would appeal.
"AC Milan would like to communicate that it will appeal against the three-match suspension handed out to Mario Balotelli," a statement on the club's website read.
The 22-year-old has made a major impact since returning to Italy, scoring 10 goals in 11 matches for club and country this year, but Milan got a taste for his more controversial side this weekend.
Chief executive Adriano Galliani told Gazzetta dello Sport Balotelli is also facing a club fine for smoking in the toilets on the train to the match.
Source: PA
