Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon faces one-match ban for breaching Italian blasphemy laws

Veteran Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is facing the prospect of a one-match ban after allegedly using a blasphemous expression during a match with Parma last month.

The former Italy international, who turns 43 on Thursday, apparently used the offensive phrase when reproaching midfielder Manolo Portanova during Juve’s 4-0 win at Parma on December 19.

A ‘Blasphemy Law’ introduced in Italy in 2010 has caught out several football stars after they expressed frustration on the pitch. Blasphemy is considered by many Italians as the worst form of swearing.

Veteran Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon faces the prospect of a one-match suspension for breaching Italy’s blasphemy laws when reprimanding one of his team-mates

Young midfielder Manolo Portanova was on the receiving end of Buffon’s offensive blast

The Italian Football Association opened an investigation in the aftermath of the game and confirmed on Tuesday they had passed the case on to the country’s federal court.

Buffon, who has featured in only six Juventus games this season, is likely to be suspended for one match.

He reportedly told 21-year-old Portanova ‘I want to see you stay there, running and suffering’ before allegedly using the offensive word.

The keeper then added: ‘I don’t care about anything else.’

Buffon has played six matches for Juventus this season as his extraordinary career goes on

In December 2020, Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante received a one-match ban for using a blasphemous phrase during a 5-1 win over Bologna that was picked up by television camera.

With stadiums empty amid the Covid-19 pandemic, such words and phrases are more easily picked up by the microphones.

In 2019, Sassuolo player Francesco Magnanelli and Parma’s Matteo Scozzarella, now at Monza, were also punished for a similar offence.

And in 2018, Juventus player Rolando Mandragora was also penalised under the blasphemy laws.