Gor Italian trainer in one-match ban for ‘obscene gesture’

Gor Mahia’s fitness trainer Sandro Fantoni has been suspended for one match by the Kenya Premier League (KPL)’s Independent Disciplinary and Complaints Committee.

The IDCC found the Italian guilty of poor conduct in several games with charges of bad behaviour brought before the disciplinary committee by the Kenyan Premier League.

The committee further asked Fantoni to review his temper and reactions, warning that they will respond very harshly if he is involved in another case of misconduct this season.

KPL complained on September 5 Fantoni made “obscene gestures at the referee by using both hands in full glare of TV cameras after being ordered to move away from the area behind the opponent’s goal” in their clash against Ulinzi Stars.

The Gor trainer will thus miss their next league match on Sunday against Sofapaka at Nyayo Stadium.

At the hearing, KPL argued that Fantoni was a repeat offender whose conduct could lead to the provocation of Gor Mahia fans.

The league body revealed that Fantoni had been officially warned about unbecoming conduct after using abusive language at match officials and stripping half naked thereby causing excitement amongst the club’s fans in a previous game.

In his defence, the Italian stated that he was deeply passionate about football, and that his actions were not meant to evoke any negative actions.

The Gor trainer added that his gesture of pointing both index fingers to the sky was very Italian and innocent, and certainly not meant to slight the match officials.

IDCC agreed that the gesture might have been innocent, but that his actions of engaging the opponent’s goalkeeper and the referee in verbal exchanges were disruptive.

-KPL website