Napoli boss Sarri banned for remarks to Inter's Mancini

Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri has been banned for two Italian Cup matches for "highly offensive" comments made to Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini.

Ex-Manchester City manager Mancini, 51, claims Sarri used homophobic language towards him during a touchline row when their teams met in the Coppa Italia.

However, the suspension was not for homophobia, for which the punishment could have been greater.

Sarri, 57, has also been fined 20,000 euros (£15,000).

Napoli were beaten 2-0 in Tuesday's quarter-final so Sarri's ban will not be served until next season.

Mancini was also fined 5,000 euros (£4,000) after he was sent-off during the match.

Warning - the section below contains language some readers may find offensive

Mancini said Sarri shouted "poof" and another homophobic slur in an altercation following Inter's second goal.

Sarri claimed not to remember his exact words, but acknowledged he had been "fired up and angry".

He added: "I was not discriminating against anyone. If I did indeed use those words, then I apologise to the gay community."

'People understand that in Italy we have a problem'

Italian snowboarder Arianna Cau, who is gay, said Sarri's ban is too short, adding that the timing is poor as Italy prepares to vote on whether to legalise gay marriage.

"I am not a judge so I can't really say what the punishment should be, but it should be more serious," Cau, one of the three best riders in her division, told BSports World Service.

"People understand that in Italy we have a problem, if we don't have a serious punishment then we will never fight this war.

"They say homophobia doesn't exist in Italy but that's not true. The moment has arrived to start taking this seriously."