Juve Kalulu ban appeal rejected

Italian Soccer Federation President Gabriele Gravina on Friday turned down an appeal from Juventus to annul a one-game ban on France defender Pierre Kalulu because he was the victim of “clear injustice” when Inter’s Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni dived to get him sent off on a second yellow card in Saturday’s 3-2 win for the Nerazzurri in the Derby of Italy.

The Bianconeri had already said they had little hope of getting the ban overturned in time for Saturday’s game against Como in Turin.

Bastoni’s dive, and his triumphant celebration of the red card for his opponent, spurred calls for him to lose his Italy place.