Italy: Nikolov suspended for one match. Lube will be without him against Milano

There will be no Superlega top scorer in a decisive match for the quarter-final pairings of the Del Monte Coppa Italia, as Alex Nikolov was suspended due to a penalty and so unfortunately he will not be able to play on Sunday against Allianz Milano.

The club expressed its position in a brief press release. “AS Volley Lube acknowledges with regret and disappointment the National Sports Judge’s decision to suspend Alex Nikolov for one match (sum of penalties), the league’s leading scorer. This situation coincides with one of the most important matches of the first phase and leaves a bitter aftertaste, especially after seeing the television footage of what happened last Saturday at the PalaPanini in the fourth set. These videos show no evidence of improper conduct by the red and white player in a match marked by fair play and a splendid crowd.”

In short, it was a very moderate controversy; moreover, Alex’s red card on Saturday was due to protests after a video check that seemed to prove the Bulgarian right.
Nikolov was also disqualified because the rules have changed.
Until last year, in fact, a disqualified athlete could commute the sanction to a fine and thus return to the court.
This is no longer the case.
Finally, it should be noted that, after Wednesday’s match in Monza, vice president Albino Massaccesi was also suspended, a brief ban from December 5th until yesterday for “having engaged in protest and intimidation towards the first umpire, after entering the control area without authorization, during the interval between the third and fourth sets.”
The measure also cost Lube a thousand euros in fines.

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