Cagliari forward Joao Pedro given 4-match ban for stamp

Roma's Kostas Manolas and Cagliari's Joao Pedro, right, vie for the ball during an Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and Cagliari, at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

CAGLIARI, Italy — Cagliari forward Joao Pedro has been issued a four-match ban for simulation and stamping on Fiorentina’s Federico Chiesa.

Joao Pedro was sent off in stoppage time of Cagliari’s 1-0 defeat to Fiorentina on Friday in Serie A after stomping on Chiesa’s foot, and was given a three-match ban for that incident.

The Brazilian was banned for another match because he received his fifth yellow card of the season for diving in the penalty area.

The 25-year-old Joao Pedro will miss Cagliari’s league matches against Atalanta, Juventus, AC Milan, and Crotone.

Cagliari is 16th in the 20-team league, two points above the relegation zone.

[relatedlinks]

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.