Genoa Executive Receives Multi-Week Suspension After Official's Door Blocked
Serie A disciplinary judge Gerardo Mastrandrea has issued an immediate suspension against Genoa sporting director Diego Lopez through September 8, 2026, following post-match incidents at Stadio Luigi Ferraris. The administrative order takes effect immediately, barring the executive from matchday operations and designated stadium zones for the upcoming league cycle.
Serie A Disciplinary Panel Cites Direct Regulatory Violations by Diego Lopez
The disciplinary tribunal determined that Lopez committed multiple procedural and behavioral breaches following Genoa’s 2-0 defeat to Napoli on August 22, 2026. Official findings recorded that Lopez improperly accessed the pitch perimeter at full-time despite lacking registration on the official matchday sheet. The ruling outlined subsequent aggressive confrontations directed at match referee Marco Di Bello, culminating in an incident where Lopez physically impeded the official from closing the dressing room door.
Diego López
playerThe underlying dispute centered on Kevin De Bruyne‘s opening goal for Napoli, which Genoa representatives contended involved an unpunished foul on defender Johan Vasquez. Refereeing chief Daniele Orsato formally reviewed the incident and backed the on-field ruling by Di Bello, confirming that no regulatory or technical error occurred during the build-up.
Genoa Operational Boundaries Restricted Through Early September
The imposed sanction revokes Lopez’s administrative privileges across matchday environments, directly prohibiting access to the pitch, tunnel, and official technical zones until the suspension concludes on September 8. Genoa must restructure executive matchday protocol during this period to ensure compliance with Serie A stadium access directives. The operational suspension prevents direct executive mediation with match officials and restricts touchline presence during competitive fixtures.
Genoa
club| Sanction Parameter | Regulatory Ruling & Metric |
|---|---|
| Sanctioned Official | Diego Lopez (Sporting Director, Genoa) |
| Adjudicating Authority | Serie A Disciplinary Judge Gerardo Mastrandrea |
| Sanction Expiration Date | September 8, 2026 |
| Primary Infractions Verified | Unregistered pitch access, official confrontation, tunnel obstruction |
| Officiating Review Outcome | Upheld by Daniele Orsato (No foul on Johan Vasquez) |