Napoli have appealed against the 'unjust and excessive' four-match ban imposed on 30-goal striker Gonzalo Higuain after his bad-tempered dismissal at Udinese.
The Argentinian was on Tuesday suspended for four games and fined 20,000 euros by Serie A as a result of his behaviour following a red card in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at the Stadio Friuli.
Higuain put his hands on referee Massimiliano Irrati and had to be restrained by his team-mates as he tried to confront Felipe, who was the recipient of the kick which earned him his marching orders.
He also shoved a member of Napoli's staff as he stormed down the tunnel and the league has now sanctioned the former Real Madrid player for his actions.
But Napoli have not accepted the punishment and have asked for it to be reviewed, announcing in a statement on their official website that the disqualification was "unjust and excessive".
The Azzurri have also asked for boss Maurizio Sarri's one-match touchline ban to be overturned.
The loss to Udinese left Napoli six points behind leaders Juventus with only seven games remaining - and Higuain will miss four of those fixtures, against Hellas Verona, Inter Milan, Bologna and Roma.
The 28-year-old had not been sent off in a match since February 2013, during his Real days.
Sarri, who had already been sent to the stands by Irrati for apparently insulting the Tuscan official, saw fit to defend the Italian top flight's leading scorer following full-time in Udine.
"Higuain told me he did nothing wrong to earn that second yellow. He is really upset because he is so committed to this team," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"In my opinion the game was not managed in an exemplary fashion."
Udinese won the encounter thanks to a brace from Bruno Fernandes and a further goal from Cyril Thereau, with Higuain notching his 30th league goal of the season midway through the first half.
Source: PA
