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Roma stadium ban extended after anti-Naples chanting
Tue Feb 18, 2014 2:42pm
(Reuters) - AS Roma will have to close an additional section of the Stadio Olimpico for their next home game because of more anti-Naples chanting by their supporters.
Roma were ordered to close both the Curva Sud and Curva Nord sections behind the goals for two home games because of anti-Naples chanting in a cup match against Napoli, a sanction which began at home to Sampdoria last Sunday.
However, Italy's sporting tribunal said that fans in the so-called "Distinti Sud", a more expensive section of seating adjacent to the Curva Sud, themselves took part in anti-Naples chanting during Sunday's game.
"This conduct involved around 90 percent of the roughly 6,000 spectators occupying that section," said the tribunal in its decision on Tuesday.
The Italian federation announced automatic stadium closures for discrimination by fans at the start of the season, a measure originally seen as intended to target racial discrimination.
However, it has also been used to combat so-called territorial discrimination, a move which has been fiercely opposed by hardcore fans.
Napoli fans themselves unfurled a banner at one game which read: "Naples cholera-sufferers. Now close our curva!"
(Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne; Editing by Rex Gowar)
Fiorentina head coach Vincenzo Montella has played down speculation that he could be a contender to replace Cesare Prandelli as Italy coach.
Montella has enhanced his reputation this season, with the Florence club sitting fourth in Serie A and reaching the Coppa Italia final as well as the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League.
Prandelli is expected to step down after the FIFA World Cup in Brazil when his contract ends and Montella has been linked with the role along with former Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri.
The 39-year-old believes he lacks the experience to take over the national team and is relishing the challenge at Stadio Artemio Franchi.
"Really I believe that it is too early," he said. "But I also say so because it is not a secondary project that we are carrying out (at Fiorentina).
"Even if I was out of contract, I am still too young, whilst around me there are highly qualified coaches who are able to do well."
Montella has a contract with the Serie A club until June 2017, having extended his deal with the club after an impressive first season in charge that saw them finish fourth.
Fiorentina will be without defender Gonzalo Rodriguez for Thursday's UEFA Europa League clash at Esbjerg but Juan Cuadrado could feature.
Argentinian defender Rodriguez will miss out due to a thigh strain, which the Serie A club will assess again at the end of next week.
There is more positive news on Cuadrado though, after the Florence outfit revealed that the Colombia midfielder has not suffered damage to his calf.
Cuadrado, who scored in Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Inter before being withdrawn late on, will be monitored ahead of Thursday's round-of-32 clash in Denmark and will be treated by medical staff over the next couple of days.
Fiorentina also revealed that midfielder Juan Manuel Vargas underwent successful surgery on his hand on Monday.
The Peru international will be examined again at the end of this week, but is set to return to training wearing a brace to protect the fourth metacarpal in his hand.
Alessandro Del Piero will line up against former side Juventus when he captains the A-League All Stars against the Italian giants in August.
Del Piero confirmed on Tuesday that he will lead the Australian league's All Star side for the match at ANZ Stadium on August 10.
His decision to play in the clash also suggests that he will continue his career at Sydney FC, despite constant rumours of a move at the end of the season.
The 39-year-old spent 19 years at Juventus, captaining them for 11 seasons, scoring a record 290 goals from 705 matches.
The match will mark the third trip to Australia for the Italian giants, following previous tours in 1984 and in 2008, when they defeated Melbourne Victory 4-1.
"To have a club of the calibre of Juventus FC come to Sydney is a massive coup for football in Australia," Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop said.
"To put it into perspective, it's very possible that of the 24 players in the Juventus FC first-team squad, 16 players could be at the 2014 FIFA World Cup representing eight different nations.
"This match will be a fantastic opportunity for fans to see the best of the Hyundai A-League line-up against some of the world's best international footballers in our own backyard."
Roma captain Francesco Totti is close to returning from injury after suffering heavy bruising on his gluteal muscle.
Totti missed Roma's win over Sampdoria on Sunday after suffering the injury following last week's 3-0 defeat to Napoli in the Coppa Italia.
The 37-year-old had been expected to spend a lengthy amount of time on the sidelines, but tests on Wednesday revealed he could be back sooner than expected.
"Totti underwent medical tests this afternoon which confirmed that the bruising he sustained has gone down," a statement released on Roma's official website read.
"The captain will continue with his rehabilitation program and be assessed again over the coming days."
Totti, who has made 19 appearances in all competitions for Roma this season, will definitely miss their trip to Bologna on Saturday, but could make his return in the home match with Inter on March 1.
Serie A leaders Juventus and Torino do battle in the Turin derby on Sunday, as the former looks to preserve their nine-point gap at the top.
With second-placed Roma poised to cut the deficit to Juve to six points when they tackle struggling Bologna on Saturday, the league leaders will be keen to keep the capital club at bay - but face their local rivals at Juventus Stadium.
Giampiero Ventura's men sit eighth on the table, and have won three of their past five trips - including 2-0 wins over Udinese and Sassuolo before a last-start 3-1 win at Hellas Verona.
Juve have been the picture of consistency, going unbeaten in 16 league matches, with a 3-1 win over Chievo last week, but interestingly they have not kept a clean sheet in six.
And with their clash with Torino coming just three days after a UEFA Europa League fixture against Trabzonspor, Ventura's side should be fresher, which will give them confidence of beating Juve for the first time since 1995.
Napoli (third) and Fiorentina (fourth) are two other sides in Europa League action, against Swansea and Esbjerg respectively on Thursday.
Rafa Benitez's men then have to back up and face Genoa at home on Monday, after Fiorentina go on the road to tackle sixth-placed Parma.
Lazio, 10th, have less time to back up from their European clash with Ludogorets, before they host cellar-dwellers Sassuolo on Sunday.
Milan will look to bounce back from their mid-week UEFA Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid, when they travel to mid-table Sampdoria.
Also on Sunday, fifth-placed Inter are aiming for three straight league wins when they host struggling Cagliari, while second-bottom Chievo take on fellow relegation-placed outfit Catania, Udinese welcome Atalanta and Livorno host Hellas Verona.
Napoli back-up goalkeeper Rafael will need surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Swansea.
Rafael was making just his 11th appearance of the season in all competitions on Thursday but lasted just one half of their UEFA Europa League clash before he had to be substituted.
The club did not specify when the 23-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper will be available to play again.
"Rafael was found to have ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee," the Serie A club said in a statement on Friday.
"The goalkeeper must now undergo surgery and then we will determine the recovery time. At the moment that is not possible."
Rafael joined Napoli from Brazilian club Santos at the start of the season for a reported fee of €5million.
The injury to Rafael leaves Napoli short-handed in goal with the Brazilian the only other gloveman to have played during Rafael Benitez's tenure apart from number one custodian Pepe Reina.
Benitez's other options in goal are 38-year-old Roberto Colombo, who has not played a senior match in three seasons, and 17-year-old Nikita Baranovsky.
Italy's Federal Court denied Roma's appeal to open both Curvas at the Stadio Olimpico for the upcoming clash with Inter.
Last week, Roma were forced to play at home against Sampdoria with the two Curvas (the stands behind the goals) closed due to the club's fans having been found guilty of anti-Neapolitan chants when Napoli visited the Italian capital in the Coppa Italia at the start of February.
Roma had hoped to re-open the Curvas, where the club's most hard-core supporters congregate, for their Serie A game against Inter on March 1 but reports in the Italian media claimed that appeal was denied.
While Roma's fine was reduced from €80,000 to €50,000, it is understood the capital club will go to Italy's High Court for another appeal.
Juventus hosts Torino in a derby match with the league leader looking to extend its impressive home form. Torino is also in good form but has not triumphed in the derby since 1995.
Elsewhere, AC Milan will be hoping to recover from Champions League disappointment at Sampdoria.
Roma and Napoli will be hoping to keep up the pressure on Juventus when they play Bologna and Genoa respectively.
Here are five things to know about the Italian league this weekend:
BALOTELLI BLOW
AC Milan may have lost the first leg of its Champions League last 16 tie against Atletico Madrid but it will be boosted by its best performance of the season.
Milan hit the woodwork three times and dominated against the Spanish joint league leader before going down to a late Diego Costa header on Wednesday.
Clarence Seedorf will be hoping Milan can start putting on similar displays in the league, starting with Sunday's trip to Sampdoria.
Seedorf is sweating on the fitness of Mario Balotelli. The Italy forward went off clutching his shoulder 12 minutes from time.
"What a great but unlucky Milan yesterday," Balotelli wrote on twitter on Thursday. "But very well done lads. Hope everything is gonna be ok with my shoulder!"
Milan is already without Stephan El Shaarawy, Valter Birsa, Robinho, Bryan Cristante and Cristian Zapata, who are all injured. Defender Mattia De Sciglio is also a doubt after he had to be substituted early on against Atletico following a crunching challenge.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUDI
Roma coach Rudi Garcia turned 50 on Thursday and marked the occasion with the release of his autobiography, entitled "All roads lead to Rome."
The Frenchman will be hoping to further celebrate his birthday with a victory at relegation-threatened Bologna on Saturday to keep up the pressure on league leader Juventus.
Roma is nine points behind Juventus but crucially has a game in hand
Garcia already has part of his mind on next season and Europe's elite club competition.
"Honestly my next target is to do well in the Champions League," he said. "First we have to end up getting into the Champions League and especially we have to have the means to do well in it.
"That's my aim and I hope it will also be that of the club."
Bologna is 16th in the league table, just two points above the relegation zone.
TURIN DERBY
Torino is the overwhelming underdog ahead of Sunday's derby match at league leader and reigning two-time league champion Juventus.
Juventus sits comfortably atop the standings and has won all 12 of its home league matches this season.
Torino is enjoying an impressive season and is aiming for a club-record 13th successive match without defeat but has not won a derby match since 1995.
It is hoping its good form will see it end the run of 15 derby matches without a win.
Giampiero Ventura's side has lost only twice in more than three months, winning seven of its past 12 matches, and lies seventh in the league following an important 3-1 win over Hellas Verona.
"We know we're facing a team which is stronger than us and we will do so with humility," Ventura said. "People have always told me that is a match apart, in which other factors don't count. We will try to prove them right."
Torino's hopes will rest on Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci, who both scored against Verona.
Immobile is co-owned by Juventus and has scored 13 goals this season to put him joint second with Bianconeri striker Carlos Tevez in the Serie A goalscoring charts.
Cerci has 11 goals.
NAPOLI STILL BELIEVE
Napoli may be 13 points behind league leader Juventus but star striker Gonzalo Higuain believes it can still win the title.
"Absolutely, we can," Higuain said. "Yes, we did lose those games (against Roma and Juventus) but the season is long and there are a lot of games to be played.
"I came to Napoli because the team is in position to win a title. They brought in Rafa Benitez and he wanted me to be part of his plans for the season. I came to this team to win, and I think we are in great position to do so."
Napoli has won its past two league games and also reached the Italian Cup final, beating Roma 3-0 for a 5-3 aggregate victory.
Higuain has scored 12 league goals for Napoli this season.
Third-placed Napoli hosts Genoa on Monday and will also be looking to preserve its four-point advantage over Fiorentina.
RELEGATION SIX-POINTER
Chievo Verona hosts Catania on Sunday in what is a real relegation battle.
Only a point separates the two sides in the bottom three, although they are on very different runs.
Catania seemed destined for relegation at the start of the year but has hauled itself off bottom spot with a run of three draws before last week's impressive victory over Lazio.
Chievo is in a downward spiral. It is on a run of nine matches without a win, with six of those ending in defeat.
Catania is also undefeated in the last four meetings between the sides, winning three and conceding only one goal.
Chievo is two points off safety, with Catania just a point better off.
Milan will be without their primary source of goals, Mario Balotelli, when they travel to Sampdoria in Serie A on Sunday.
The Italy striker has scored four of Milan's seven goals since the arrival of Clarence Seedorf as coach in January, but a shoulder injury will force him to miss the trip to the Luigi Ferraris.
Balotelli picked up the problem in Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the sides' UEFA Champions League last-16 tie.
Seedorf's appointment has improved the domestic form of Milan, who have lost just one of five Serie A games since the Dutchman replaced Massimiliano Allegri.
However, their faint hopes of securing European football with a top-five finish could well suffer a blow at a stadium where the 18-time champions have struggled to earn positive results.
Indeed, Milan have not won a league game at Sampdoria since October 2007, Seedorf scoring the final goal in an emphatic 5-0 win on that day.
Injuries at both ends of the pitch may hamper Milan's chances of ending that run, with Mattia De Sciglio (ankle) also having picked up an injury in midweek.
The absence of the right-back and Balotelli will come as a blow to a side already missing several first-team players, including strikers Robinho (thigh) and Stephan El Shaarawy (foot).
Valter Birsa (hamstring), Bryan Cristante (leg) and Matias Silvestre (calf) are also unavailable for Milan, while the suspended pair of defender Daniele Gastaldello and midfielder Lorenzo Di Silvestri miss out for Samp.
Striker Maxi Lopez, scorer of the winning goal in the derby against fierce rivals Genoa earlier this month, is nearing a return from a foot injury, but Gianluca Sansone is a doubt through illness.
Samp were hammered 3-0 by Roma last weekend but are nine points clear of the drop zone despite an inconsistent campaign.
The appointment of Sinisa Mihajlovic in November has proved key to Samp's improving prospects of staying in the top tier, with the Serbian overseeing a handy revival following a dismal start to the campaign under Delio Rossi.
Samp won only two of their first 12 Serie A games this season, but have since claimed victory in five of the next 12 following Mihajlovic's appointment.
Despite their relatively strong form, midfielder Angelo Palombo does not believe Samp can afford to ease off in the closing stages of the season.
"We have to raise our level again on Sunday and return to speed as soon as possible," Palombo said. "Because with 28 points we cannot be relaxed."
Juventus welcome near neighbours Torino on Sunday aiming to extend a 15-match unbeaten league run against their fierce rivals.
The defending Serie A champions have not suffered defeat against Torino since a 2-1 loss in April 1995, with Juve's most recent success coming in a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture last September.
Paul Pogba's solitary strike was enough to settle the encounter at Stadio Olimpico on that occasion and Torino will be desperate to change recent history at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday.
However, the task will be no easy feat, considering Juventus have won all 12 of their home league games this season, including a straightforward 3-1 triumph over Chievo last time out in Serie A.
That victory marked the first of three home matches in the space of seven days for Antonio Conte's men, who beat Turkish outfit Trabzonspor 2-0 in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo opened his Juve account on his first start for the club in the first half, while Pogba ensured a comfortable lead heading into next week's return leg in the last-32 tie.
Juventus will take further confidence against Giampiero Ventura's men considering the runaway league leaders have not tasted defeat in Serie A since a 4-2 reverse at Fiorentina in October, some 16 matches ago.
That remains Juve's only league defeat of the campaign, with the odds further stacked in home side's favour to continue that record.
But Torino approach the game in buoyant mood themselves, following a 3-1 victory at fellow European hopefuls Verona last weekend.
The impressive victory leaves Torino seventh in Serie A, just three points adrift of a Europa League spot.
Torino have also shown a marked improvement on the road in recent weeks, with three wins in their last five away Serie A matches.
That followed just a solitary win in their opening seven fixtures away from Stadio Olimpico and Ventura's men may cause an upset against Juve.
Defenders Giorgio Chiellini (thigh) and Andrea Barzagli (muscle) are doubtful for Juventus, while striker Mirko Vucinic is definitely out with a knee problem. Torino could be once again without forward Barreto (knock).
Inter can pile further pressure on Cagliari coach Diego Lopez with a third straight Serie A victory, when the sides meet in Milan on Sunday.
Walter Mazzarri's men have been in good form this month, bouncing back from their 3-1 defeat to champions Juventus to record victories over Sassuolo and Fiorentina.
Their latest win saw them close the gap between themselves and Vincenzo Montella's fourth-placed men to five points.
While Fiorentina and Inter currently occupy the two UEFA Europa League spots, the former travel to Parma on Monday, with victory for the hosts keeping them firmly in the hunt for European football.
A win for Inter at San Siro a day earlier would not only boost their hopes of qualifying for Europe's second-tier club competition, it would place even more pressure on Cagliari boss Lopez.
Lopez's days at the Stadio Is Arenas are reported to be numbered, with president Massimo Cellino said to be less than pleased with the club's showing in Serie A this season.
Assistant coach Ivo Pulga, suggested as a likely successor to Lopez, was dismissed this week and the Uruguayan could do with a positive result against high-flying Inter, with the Sardinians having won just one of their last nine Serie A matches.
Cagliari have a reasonable recent record against Inter, avoiding defeat in each of their last four games, although three of these have been draws.
Inter last beat Cagliari in November 2011 thanks to goals from Thiago Motta and Philippe Coutinho, with defender Hugo Campagnaro claiming all of Inter's efforts are now focused on victory this weekend.
After Mazzarri brought in the likes of Hernanes, Ruben Botta and Danilo D'Ambrosio last month, Campagnaro explained to Mediaset: "There has been a lot of competition in the last few weeks above all.
"That's crucial for a team. No one feels they have a right to a starting spot, which is something that helps the team's growth.
"In the dressing room we don't aim for a final objective. Now all our thoughts are on Cagliari."
If Cagliari are to take anything from the game, they will need to arrest the woeful away form they have demonstrated this term.
Lopez's side have failed to win a game on the road all season, scoring just four goals on their way to picking up five from a possible 33 points.
Inter meanwhile have made San Siro something of a fortress - losing just once at home in Serie A.
Serie A Wrap: Verona, Milan close gap on Inter, Juventus win Turin derby
23 February 2014
Verona closed the gap on Inter in the race for UEFA Europa League qualification with a 3-2 win over struggling Livorno in Serie A on Sunday.
Andrea Mandorlini's side raced into a three-goal lead before the break as strikes from Bosko Jankovic, Romulo and Luca Toni looked to have set them up for a comfortable victory.
However that proved to be far from the case as the hosts replied in the second half through Paulinho and Leandro Greco, leaving Verona with a nervy final 17 minutes to hold on for the points.
Their win put pressure on fifth-placed Inter to get a result a couple of hours later, and Walter Mazzarri's side could only manage a 1-1 draw at San Siro with Cagliari.
The visitors went in front in the 40th minute when Mauricio Pinilla tucked home a penalty and although Rolando equalised six minutes after the break, the draw means Inter now hold just a one-point advantage over Verona.
Another side to make ground on Mazzarri's men were city rivals Milan, who continued their resurgence under Clarence Seedorf with a comfortable 2-0 win at 10-man Sampdoria.
Adel Taarabt opened the scoring in the 12th minute then turned provider just before the hour-mark when he crossed for Adil Rami to head home, before Maxi Lopez was sent off for the hosts after receiving two cautions for dissent.
Juventus extended their unbeaten run in Turin derbies to 16 matches as Carlos Tevez's 30th-minute strike earned them a 1-0 win against Torino, a result which sends Antonio Conte's men nine points clear at the top of the table.
At the bottom, Chievo climbed out of the relegation zone with a crucial 2-0 home win over fellow strugglers Catania.
Cyril Thereau's penalty on 37 minutes and Luca Rigoni's strike midway through the second half earned Chievo their first win in 10 matches and deepened the visitors' woes.
Elsewhere, two goals from Stefan Radu and one from Miroslav Klose helped Lazio to a 3-2 win over bottom side Sassuolo, while Antonio Di Natale's 71st-minute penalty rescued a point for Udinese in a 1-1 draw with Atalanta.
The Italy international is hopeful that the Giallorossi can get back in the title race and take advantage of a possible slip-up from the leaders
Daniele De Rossi remains optimistic about Roma's Serie A title chances as he hopes leaders Juventus will slip up at some point.
A 1-0 victory over Bologna on Saturday took Roma to within six points of the Scudetto holders ahead of their match against Torino on Sunday and De Rossi is hoping his side can capitalise should an opportunity arise.
"I don't know if Juventus will start to drop points now and whether it will be a spectacular end to the season, but we just need to win and hope they and [third-placed] Napoli drop points," De Rossi told Rai Sport.
"You can tell it's a good season from lots of little things: in the summer with those who arrived; winning the derby in week four; the crucial victory in Udinese; the run of results after our defeat [to Juventus] in Turin.
"It is already impressive that we are so close to a team that was constructed to destroy all competition in the Serie A."
The Italy international then went on to praise Roma's performance in this weekend's win over Bologna.
"We sent out a message that this is a completely different Roma," he added.
"In the past these games have been turning points and we tended to fall apart, but not this time. I saw a team that are focused and very strong. Don't forget Napoli drew here a few weeks ago."
The Granata felt that they should have been awarded a spot-kick when Omar El Kaddouri went over in the area with 10 minutes to go in the Derby della Mole
Antonio Conte has admitted that Juventus could easily have conceded a penalty in the closing stages of Sunday's Serie A win over Torino.
Carlos Tevez's first-half strike gave the hosts the lead in the Derby della Mole and although the Granata rarely threatened an equaliser, there was one scare for the Bianconeri with 10 minutes remaining when Omar El Kaddouri went down under Andrea Pirlo's challenge inside the penalty area.
Conte conceded that Juve could have had few complaints if the referee had pointed to the spot but also argued that El Kaddouri's theatrical fall could also have resulted in a yellow card for the Moroccan.
"Let's say El Kaddouri was prepared for it, but there was contact too," Conte told Sky Sport Italia.
"I'll admit anything could have happened there; a penalty or a booking for simulation.
"Thankfully, the referee made the right decision for us!"
Juve now face a trip to Turkey for the second leg of their Europa League round-of-32 tie with Trabzonspor on Thursday, before returning to Italy to face AC Milan at San Siro on Sunday.
Although nine points clear of Roma at present, Conte expressed concerns that his side's extra games could count against them in the run-in for the title.
"Roma sent us a message last night [by beating Bologna], we replied today and next week we'll play away to Milan," he said.
"What worries me is that we won't get back from Turkey until Friday morning at 07:00 and then play on Sunday evening, so we'll barely get any rest.
"[Roma] don't have any European commitments, aren't getting anything wrong and in many ways remind me of my first year at Juventus.
"If you ask me if I'm more relaxed last season or this, I'll be honest and say last year. Are they more dangerous than Napoli last year? Yes. Definitely."
Serie A Wrap: Calaio denies parent club Napoli, Fiorentina rescue point
24 February 2014
Napoli were denied victory on Monday as Genoa loanee Emanuele Calaio sensationally scored against his parent club to secure a 1-1 draw.
Gonzalo Higuain's 18th-minute strike looked set to prove decisive for Rafael Benitez's side, who sit third in Serie A.
However, substitute Calaio provided a stunning twist to an entertaining match with seven minutes remaining, beating Pepe Reina with a curling free-kick from 30 yards.
Calaio was understandably restrained in celebration after his wonderful left-footed strike punished the hosts for not putting the game to bed.
Napoli now sit six points behind second-placed Roma having played a game more, while Genoa remain 11th.
After Higuain had fired wide on the turn early on, the lively Dries Mertens twice looked to find the top-right corner, narrowly missing the target with his second attempt after Mattia Perin had saved his initial effort.
The home side's early dominance was rewarded when Higuain latched on to a perfectly-weighted throughball from Marek Hamsik before lifting the ball over Perin to take his Serie A tally this season to 13 goals.
Genoa responded well, with Luca Antonelli heading over from a free-kick and Moussa Konate seeing a goalbound shot cleared by Federico Fernandez with Reina beaten.
Higuain then sent a driven strike just past Perin's right-hand post before Matuzalem escaped with just a yellow card after appearing to jump into a challenge with Fernandez.
There were further chances at either end before the interval, Mertens threatening for Napoli on two further occasions either side of Konate seeing a free header saved by Reina.
Konate dribbled into a promising position three minutes into the second half, but was unable to capitalise as Fernandez got back to make a crucial intervention.
A similarly fine challenge from Luca Antonini shut out Napoli's Jose Callejon before Genoa saw another opportunity go begging through Giuseppe Sculli, who was unable to hit the target after good work from Konate.
Sculli also brought a save from Reina with Benitez's side looking vulnerable, yet it was Calaio who had the final say.
Fiorentina twice came from behind to rescue a 2-2 draw at Parma in an ill-tempered match featuring three second-half dismissals.
Parma moved ahead through Antonio Cassano in the 39th minute, but that strike was cancelled out two minutes later by Juan Cuadrado.
An Amauri penalty restored the hosts' lead early in the second half and hopes of a second Fiorentina comeback were dented by the 53rd-minute dismissal of Modibo Diakite for a second bookable offence.
However, Vincenzo Montella's men made light of their numerical disadvantage and snatched a point courtesy of Matias Fernandez's goal with five minutes remaining.
There was still time for two further red cards as Gianni Munari and Borja Valero were sent off following an injury-time brawl.
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has condemned the display of banners in the Turin derby that appeared to refer to the Superga air tragedy.
The banners were reportedly unfurled during Juve's 1-0 win over Torino at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday, and are thought to have referenced a plane crash that occurred in 1949 when several Torino players, staff and journalists on board died.
Juventus were punished for a similar incident in 2012, for which the club received a €10,000 fine.
Agnelli has now warned supporters over their conduct and pleaded for fans not to reference the tragedy.
"Tragedies are not to be touched upon," he said in a statement on the club's official Twitter account.
"No more vile chants or banners. From anyone."
The incident has taken the shine off Juve's victory over their rivals, which was settled by Carlos Tevez's strike as the hosts regained their nine-point lead at the top of Serie A.
Napoli coach Rafael Benitez lamented his team's failure to finish off Genoa after their 1-1 draw on Monday.
Emanuele Calaio haunted his parent club, coming off the bench to score a stunning 84th-minute free-kick to earn Genoa a surprise point at the Stadio San Paolo – a goal he apologised for.
Gonzalo Higuain put Napoli ahead on 18 minutes in front of their home fans with a chipped finish, but the third-placed Serie A side were unable to seal the result.
Benitez said he wanted several more goals during the first half and felt Genoa were always likely to respond after his team failed to score again before the break.
"The first half was the key for me, as we wanted to score two or three goals and then control it after the break," the Spaniard told Sky Sport Italia.
"We didn't achieve that, we knew they were dangerous and that at 1-0 we were always in the balance.
"Clearly if we win our games, then it's easier to think we can finish second. We must understand that this type of match has to be finished off by half-time and that is all."
Higuain's clever finish from a Marek Hamsik pass appeared to have Napoli on track for the first-half target Benitez had set them.
But Calaio, who came on in the 63rd minute, hit back with a delightful, curling left-footed free-kick from 35 yards to earn Genoa a point.
Calaio helped Napoli from Serie C1 to the top flight with several goals during seasons 2005/06 and 2006/07 and the 32-year-old rejoined them in January 2013, only to be loaned out.
He waved apologetically to the crowd as his team-mates celebrated with him after his goal.
"I'm sorry to have scored at Naples," Calaio said.
"Sorry to do this here at the San Paolo but this is my job.
"When the coach gives me the opportunity I always try to give the maximum satisfaction and perform for this shirt. They deserve it, these fans who have come this far."
Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini said: "Calaio cared so much about being here in this stadium, so it wasn't easy for him.”
Gasperini praised his younger players, including striker Moussa Konate, with Genoa sitting 11th in the Serie A.
"(Moussa) Konate only just turned 20 and has already made a lot of progress from a few months ago," he said.
"He's growing from game to game and we have an excellent group of young players who are being helped by the experienced figures.
"We don't tend to have great ballistics specialists, so we tend to have to build our moves and get close to the goal in order to score.
"It might seem as if we don't create many chances, but in reality we just take longer to get there."
Montella admits Fiorentina are ´annoying´ referees
25 February 2014
Fiorentina head coach Vincenzo Montella questioned his team's behaviour towards referees after their 2-2 draw at Parma on Monday.
Montella's men received two red cards and conceded a penalty but still managed to come from behind twice to earn a point at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.
Modibo Diakite and Borja Valero were sent off for Fiorentina, while Parma substitute Gianni Munari also saw red.
Montella said his club, who sit fourth in the Serie A, were perhaps annoying officials.
"It is true that our behaviour must improve. It is also true that I am not tense about the situation," he told a news conference.
"The club and I are relaxed about refereeing, we do not fire up the players in that sense, even if they may well be tense.
"Our players must learn they cannot try to get vigilante justice, even if they think that decisions have gone unfairly against them. If we are patient, then we can improve.
"We will take a step back but the other side also has to take a step forward and come towards us, because I get the feeling we are becoming annoying and that's a paradox.
"The players are becoming annoying to those who referee games and maybe I and the club are too."
Antonio Cassano and Juan Cuadrado traded goals before half-time but Parma regained the lead thanks to an Amauri penalty on 51 minutes.
Diakite was sent off after picking up his second yellow card but Fiorentina still managed an equaliser, as substitute Matias Fernandez curled in a 25-yard free-kick.
Munari and Valero saw red in stoppage time after a scuffle in a wall at a set-piece.
Montella appeared to be shouting at referee Andrea Gervasoni post-game but said he was trying to shake hands with the official.
"I thought people were obliged to shake hands after the final whistle but apparently that is not the case," he said.
"Referees can salute you from a distance or later in the tunnel, which he explained to me afterwards.
"I expected Gervasoni in midfield but he didn't come my way...maybe he didn't want to get insulted."
Juve fined over air crash banner, Roma for crowd trouble
Tue Feb 25, 2014 4:19pm GMT
(Reuters) - Juventus have been fined after fans displayed a banner referring to the Torino air crash and AS Roma have been penalised for crowd trouble before and after Saturday's Serie A game at Bologna.
In addition, Italy's sporting tribunal has banned Fiorentina midfielder Borja Valero for four matches after he was one of three players sent off in their match at Parma on Monday.
Juventus were ordered to pay 25,000 euros (20,545.07 pounds) after their fans "put on display two banners insulting the memory of the Superga tragedy" during Sunday's derby against neighbours Torino, the tribunal said on Tuesday.
Eighteen Torino players and officials were among 31 people killed in the 1949 accident when their plane crashed into the Superga hill near the city while trying to land.
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli had already criticised the banners on Monday. "The tragedy is something not to be touched upon. No to rogue chanting and banners," he said on Twitter.
Roma were fined 50,000 euros after their supporters destroyed a ticket booth and threw tables and rubbish bins at police before the Bologna game. They also used firecrackers during the match, the tribunal said.
Valero was banned for repeatedly pushing Parma's Gianni Munari and for shoving the referee after he was sent off at the end of Monday's 2-2 draw. Munari was given the automatic one-match ban.
(Reporting by Brian Homewood, editing by Ed Osmond)
