Italian referee ‘set for suspension for a round of Serie A games’ after failing to shake hands with his female assistant in awkward moment ahead of 1-1 draw between Lecce and Sassuolo

• Francesca Di Monte has assisted in three Serie A fixtures so far this campaign 
• Juan Luca Sacchi was also spoken to by referee designator Gianluca Rocchi 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

An Italian referee has been handed a ban for a round of Serie A games as a result of failing to shake hands with their female assistant ahead of kick-off. 

Sassuolo travelled to Lecce on Friday evening in their Serie A clash, with Alessio Dionisi’s side looking to improve after a slightly underwhelming start to the 2023-24 campaign. 

Star forward Domenico Berardi had the Neroverdi ahead after just 22 minutes with a well-dispatched spot-kick, for his fifth goal in six appearances, but Lecce squared things after the break through Nikola Krstovic to ensure a 1-1 draw at home. 

Yet before the game even kicked off there was a contentious moment in the tunnel, when Juan Luca Sacchi failed to observe the traditional pre-match handshakes with his female assistant Francesca Di Monte. 

Prior to the game kicking off, Di Monte was positioned at the head of the Lecce players waiting to take to the pitch. 

Juan Luca Sacchi (left) and Francesca Di Monte (middle) oversaw the match between Lecce and Sassuolo

Sacchi appeared to deliberately not shake hands with his assistant ahead of kick-off

However the assistant was snubbed, before Sacchi moved on to shake hands with Lecce captain Gabriel Strefezza

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Referee Sacchi then made his way up the tunnel through both sets of players, as Di Monte shook hands with her fellow assistant on the other side of the tunnel. 

Sacchi then notes Di Monte and appears to offer a hand, only to have moved it before his assistant notices, leaving her hanging in front of both sets of players. 

The home team’s skipper Gabriel Strefezza could be seen smirking to himself as he saw the slight to Di Monte in front of him. 

Di Monte then seemingly shook her head and smiled to herself in disbelief, before making her way down the tunnel with the rest of the amassed party for the game to kick off. 

According to reports in Italy, the referee has not only been served with a ban of one match in Serie A, but also a verbal telling-off from referee designator Gianluca Rocchi over the embarrassment his actions have caused. 

It was the third Serie A clash that Di Monte has assisted in this campaign, having also officiated in Empoli’s 1-0 win over Salernitana and Cagliari’s 0-0 draw with Udinese in September.  

Sacchi risks not being able to referee in the next round of fixtures after snubbing his assistant

Domenico Berardi had put Sassuolo ahead on the road after 22 minutes from the penalty spot

Nikola Krstovic then levelled from close range for the hosts from a corner in the second half

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