Mazzarri banned for Chelsea tie

UEFA has announced that Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has been handed a two-match touchline suspension for the Champions League.

The ban means Mazzarri will be in the stands for both legs of Napoli’s Champions League round of 16 tie against Chelsea on February 21 and March 14.

The 50-year-old coach was sent off during Napoli’s 2-0 victory against Villarreal in December for protesting at the Spanish side’s time-wasting by pushing Nilmar off the ball.

In addition to the suspension, Mazzarri has also been fined 3,000 euros for his actions.

“We will present our appeal next week – our goal is to at least reduce the ban by one match,” Napoli lawyer Mattia Grassani told Radio Gol.

“We want to prove that what Walter did was minimal since there was no aggression. Our biggest goal is to transform the suspension into a fine.”