Salvatore Foti’s return to the Sicilian game has taken a severe turn, with the Acireale coach banned until 5 February 2027 after an incident during last Sunday’s Eccellenza fixture.
The former Roma assistant, who worked alongside José Mourinho, received the sanction for conduct judged offensive and threatening towards the referee. The episode was recorded after a tense moment in the latest league match and has led to an exceptionally long suspension.
Quick facts
- Salvatore Foti has been suspended until 5 February 2027.
- The punishment concerns offensive and threatening behaviour towards a match official.
- The incident occurred during Acireale’s league game last Sunday.
- Foti returned to his home city last summer to join Acireale’s ambitious Eccellenza project.
- He was also banned for 10 matches last season while at Sampdoria.
Foti chose Acireale last summer after leaving the higher-profile environment of Roma, where he had been Mourinho’s deputy. The move represented a homecoming and a chance to begin again in Sicily with a club pursuing an ambitious path in the regional championship.
This latest case is a matter arising directly from the touchline. It is separate from the disciplinary issue that affected Foti at Sampdoria last season, when he was given a 10-match ban for effectively acting as head coach in Serie B without holding the UEFA Pro licence, despite being registered as an assistant.
That earlier punishment was upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal. The Acireale sanction, however, follows the referee’s report from Sunday’s match rather than an issue concerning coaching qualifications or registration.
The scale of the ban inevitably recalls Foti’s years beside Mourinho at Roma, when the Portuguese coach and his staff were regularly involved in disputes with officials. In Acireale, the club now faces a long spell without its coach unless it can alter the ruling.
An appeal is expected to be considered in the coming days, with Acireale likely to seek at least a reduction in the number of matches and the overall length of Foti’s suspension.
