The final matchday of the Serie A season has delivered a series of disciplinary sanctions that will shape the early rounds of the next campaign. As the curtain fell on a dramatic 2025/26 season, the league's sporting judge handed down multiple suspensions, with relegated Cremonese bearing the brunt of the punishments. The most severe bans stemmed from a chaotic 2-1 defeat to Como that confirmed the Grigiorossi's drop to Serie B.
Cremonese's frustrations boiled over in the 28th minute of the second half, leading to three players being charged. Midfielder Alberto Grassi received the heaviest sentence: a four-match ban for uttering a blasphemous phrase and then approaching the referee in a threatening manner, even making light physical contact. The official report detailed the incident with precision, leaving no room for a reduced sentence. Grassi will now miss a significant portion of Cremonese's start to life in the second tier.
Fellow squad member Milan Djuric was handed a two-match suspension for entering the field of play from the bench and directing insulting remarks at an assistant referee. Striker David Okereke also earned a one-match ban and a €5,000 fine for what the judge described as a 'gravely disrespectful attitude' toward the match official. With substitute Vardy also picking up a yellow card while on a warning, Cremonese face a total of eight matches of suspensions to kick off their 2026/27 Serie B campaign—a devastating blow for a team already reeling from relegation.
The discipline issues are particularly damaging for a side that must rebuild its identity and morale in Serie B. Losing key personnel like Grassi and Djuric for multiple fixtures disrupts tactical planning and places immediate pressure on the squad's depth. Coach and club management will need to address the lack of composure shown in a high-stakes match, as such incidents could set a negative tone for the challenging season ahead.
Elsewhere in Serie A, Udinese defender Christian Kabasele received a two-match ban and a €5,000 fine for violent conduct. The Belgian centre-back was deemed to have kicked an opponent while the ball was not in play—an unnecessary act that did not cause injury but was punished harshly to deter future lapses. His absence will weaken Udinese's backline when the new season begins.
Several players will also serve one-match bans after accumulating yellow cards while in a state of warning. Inter's Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Parma's Britschgi, Lecce's Ramadani, and Cremonese's Vardy all fell foul of the disciplinary code on the final day, meaning they will miss the first match of 2026/27. For Inter, Mkhitaryan's suspension is particularly noteworthy; the Armenian playmaker has been instrumental in midfield, and his absence could force Simone Inzaghi to reshuffle his starting lineup for the opening fixture.
Verona's Nicolas Valentini faces a similar one-game suspension after receiving two yellow cards in the loss to Roma. While double bookings are common, the timing means he will be unavailable when his team kicks off its survival bid in August. These accumulated bans highlight the thin line players walk in managing their disciplinary records as the season concludes.
Financial sanctions were also dished out to Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Cremonese's Bianchetti, both fined €1,500 for protesting decisions. Both players had been on a booking warning, but those cautions lapse with the end of the domestic season, sparing them further competitive consequences. The fines serve as a reminder that dissent will not be tolerated, even in emotionally charged end-of-season clashes.
The suspensions handed down by the Serie A sporting judge underline the league's commitment to clamping down on misconduct. With the new season only months away, clubs must now factor these bans into their pre-season preparations. For Cremonese, the road back to the top flight just got steeper, while the likes of Udinese and Inter will hope to cope without key figures in their early matches. Based on reporting from Tuttosport.
