Fiorentina are appealing Felipe Melo's five-match ban for brawling with Cagliari's Diego Lopez during last weekend's 2-1 win.

"Having listened to the witnesses and viewed the documents that led to Felipe Melo's five-match ban, Fiorentina have decided to stage an appeal to the CAF," announced the club.

"We have the utmost conviction that Felipe Melo only replied to a violent provocation from the Cagliari player and acted in self-defence.

"Fiorentina also point out that during the incident our player Sergio Almiron was also struck in a violent manner by the same Cagliari man."