Fiorentina patron Diego Della Valle has blasted the two-match ban handed to striker Alberto Gilardino for his 'handball' goal on the weekend.
"I was sure the ban would stand, but we chose to appeal it because Gilardino really is a nice lad and I will stress that over and over again," Della Valle said in the Corriere dello Sport.
"Alberto has been slaughtered over the past few days and I can't recall something like that in recent years.
"He apologised after the game and we thought his sincerity might be important."