Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini was Tuesday hit with a three-match ban for elbowing an opponent in the face, but he is unlikely to miss out on making Cesare Prandelli's Italy squad for the World Cup.
Chiellini was found guilty by the Italian league of hitting Roma's Miralem Pjanic in the face during Sunday's 1-0 league victory, an action caught on video playback.
But unlike Mattia Destro, who was last month suspended for three matches for throwing a punch and then missed fitness tests for 42 players conducted by Prandelli, Chiellini did not fall foul of the national team's code of conduct.
"For me, it's not a violent gesture," Prandelli said, adding that Chiellini "will be in the 30-player (provisional) squad".
"He didn't raise his arm to hurt someone."
Source: AFP
