Massimiliano Allegri will not be on the bench for Napoli when they visit the Allianz Stadium on Sunday evening. Serie A referees have handed the former Juventus coach a two-match ban following his sending-off against Roma, although Napoli have confirmed they will appeal the decision.
The ban means one of the most talked-about meetings of the fall could take place without a protagonist in the dugout unless an appeal goes Napoli’s way before the weekend.
Why was Allegri banned?
Allegri was sent off for reacting furiously after Leonardo Balerdi scored a late equalizer for the visitors in Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Roma at the Maradona. Football Italia reports that he took off his jacket and walked away before returning and being detained by his own staff.
The referee’s decision, published on Monday and detailed by Sky Sport Italia, goes further than the touch incident. Allegri was punished for insulting the match officials in the 90th minute, followed by a serious disrespectful comment addressed to them in the dressing room and aggressive behavior towards the manager of the rival club. The first two were recorded by the fourth judge and the judge, and the last one by the federal prosecutor’s staff.
In addition, the 59-year-old specialist was fined 10,000 euros.
First Monza, then Juventus
The two games that Allegri will miss are both at home. Napoli travel to Monza on Wednesday 28 October for a midweek tour, before traveling to Turin to face Juventus on Sunday 1 November, with both matches kicking off at 20:45 local time.
If the ban stands, his first game on the bench will be a home game against Lazio on Sunday, November 8.
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Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) October 26, 2026
Napoli are fighting the decision
“Napoli” moved quickly. In a brief club statement on Monday afternoon, the Partenopei said they would appeal the two-match suspension handed down to their coach, requesting access to official documents.
Sky Sport Italia note that a successful appeal would open the door for Allegri to take a place on the bench in Turin. Italian reports suggest the case should be heard by the end of the week, so the picture should be clear before Sunday.
What does this mean for Juventus?
For “Juventus” supporters, any meeting with Allegri carries an additional burden. He led the club through two spells, the second of which ended in May 2024, and he remains one of the most successful managers in their history.
Luciano Spalletti’s side went into the week in better spirits after ending a 35-day league wait for a win with a 2-0 victory over Lecce that lifted them to seventh with 14 points. As mentioned in our report, Douglas Luiz was among the scorers that night his first goal for the club.
Whether Allegri is in the dungeon or not, Napoli will come as a dangerous opponent. You can follow every turn of his relationship with the Bianconeri on our page Massimiliano Allegri page.
Sources: Sky Sport Italia, SSC Napoli, Football Italia