AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes has been handed a four-match ban for having grabbed Lazio skipper Stefano Mauri by his throat during a Serie A encounter.
The 32-year-old French centre-back was involved in a scuffle with Mauri in stoppage time after being tripped by the 35-year-old.
Mexes grabbed Mauri by his throat and had to be eventually dragged away from the former Udinese player and pushed off the field after being shown a red card by the referee.
Mexes later apologised for the incident, being quoted as saying by the BBC: "These things should not happen out on a football pitch.
"I have children and this is not the sort of example that a father should set."
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Saturday's red card was the 16th red card of Mexes' career and he is now set to serve a lengthy suspension for his actions.
The Rosonneri eventually lost the match 3-1 and have now been pushed down to eleventh spot in the league with 26 points from 20 matches, ten off a top three Champions League qualifying spot.
The two sides will lock horns yet again in the Coppa Italia tonight and tension is sure to be running high.
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