• Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon reacts as he is presented with The Best Fifa Goalkeeper Award by former Manchester United player Peter Schmeichel during the awards ceremony at the London Palladium. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
    Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon reacts as he is presented with The Best Fifa Goalkeeper Award by former Manchester United player Peter Schmeichel during the awards ceremony at the London Palladium. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
  • Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo speaks with Real Madrid’s Marcelo after winning The Best Fifa Men’s Player Award . John Sibley / Reuters
    Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo speaks with Real Madrid’s Marcelo after winning The Best Fifa Men’s Player Award . John Sibley / Reuters
  • Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks during the awards. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
    Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks during the awards. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
  • Actor Idris Elba takes a selfie with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar during the awards. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
    Actor Idris Elba takes a selfie with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar during the awards. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
  • Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - London Palladium, London, Britain - October 23, 2017 Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon reacts as he is presented with The Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award by former Manchester United player Peter Schmeichel during the awards REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
    Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - London Palladium, London, Britain - October 23, 2017 Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon reacts as he is presented with The Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award by former Manchester United player Peter Schmeichel during the awards REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
  • Actor Idris Elba poses for a selfie with Fifa FIFPro World 11 players Neymar of PSG, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos, Paris Saint-Germain’s Dani Alves, Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos, AC Milan's Leonardo Bonucci, Real Madrid’s Marcelo and Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon during the awards. John Sibley / Reuters
    Actor Idris Elba poses for a selfie with Fifa FIFPro World 11 players Neymar of PSG, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos, Paris Saint-Germain’s Dani Alves, Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos, AC Milan's Leonardo Bonucci, Real Madrid’s Marcelo and Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon during the awards. John Sibley / Reuters
  • Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after winning The Best Fifa Men’s Player Award with Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
    Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after winning The Best Fifa Men’s Player Award with Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
  • Actor Idris Elba poses for a selfie with Fifa FIFPro World 11 players Neymar of PSG, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos, Paris Saint-Germain’s Dani Alves, Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos, AC Milan's Leonardo Bonucci, Real Madrid’s Marcelo and Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon during the awards. John Sibley / Reuters
    Actor Idris Elba poses for a selfie with Fifa FIFPro World 11 players Neymar of PSG, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos, Paris Saint-Germain’s Dani Alves, Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos, AC Milan's Leonardo Bonucci, Real Madrid’s Marcelo and Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon during the awards. John Sibley / Reuters
  • Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi after being selected in the Fifa FIFPro World 11 during the awards. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
    Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi after being selected in the Fifa FIFPro World 11 during the awards. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
  • Former Argentina player Diego Maradona and former Brazil player Ronaldo speak during the awards. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
    Former Argentina player Diego Maradona and former Brazil player Ronaldo speak during the awards. Eddie Keogh / Reuters

Leonardo Bonucci 'hit rock bottom' with red card against Genoa, says AC Milan defender's mental coach


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AC Milan captain Leonardo Bonucci has been given a two-game ban for elbowing and will miss the clash against his former club Juventus, the Lega Serie A has confirmed.

The Italian international defender saw red for elbowing Genoa's Aleandro Rosi after consultation with the video assistant referee (VAR) during Sunday's goalless draw.

The Lega Serie A found Bonucci guilty of "grave unsporting conduct" when he "hit the opposing player in the face with an elbow, causing physical damage".

Bonucci, 30, will miss the midweek trip to Chievo, but also the clash against Juventus at San Siro next weekend.

Bonucci's mental coach, Alberto Ferrarini, revealed earlier Monday that the defender had "hit rock bottom with his red card".

"All the attention he received from his move to Milan was beautiful, but it didn't do him any good," Ferrarini told Radio 24.

"With his red card yesterday [Sunday], he hit bottom, but now I'm convinced that there'll be a rebirth, as if one chapter was closed to open another. He's hungry about coming back stronger than before."

Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic has been given a one-match ban for his two yellow cards against Udinese.

Napoli were fined €15,000 (Dh65,000) after fans threw flares at Inter Milan supporters in their 0-0 draw, while Inter were fined a total of €16,000 for an offensive banner, anti-Neapolitan chanting and a delay to the second half of that match.

Fiorentina were fined €2,000  after fans threw a smoke bomb onto the pitch while SPAL were fined €2,500 after a delay in the second half of their match.

Elsewhere, Benevento have fired manager Marco Baroni after becoming the first team in Serie A history to lose their first nine matches of the season.

The club announced that Baroni, 54, who led them out of Serie B last season and into the top flight for the first time, would be replaced by Roberto De Zerbi.

"The club thanks Baroni for his professionalism and the great emotions that he brought to Benevento football club, the fans and the city, with promotion to Serie A," the club said in a statement.

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Benevento set their unwanted record by losing 3-0 at home to Fiorentina on Sunday. They have scored only two goals in their nine games and conceded 22.

De Zerbi, 38, had two seasons in charge of Foggia, narrowly missing out on promotion. His only previous experience of coaching in SerieA was a three-month spell at Palermo last season.

Benevento are the second club this season to change manager after Cagliari, who they visit in their next league match on Wednesday.

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