Malen’s Como red card brings a one-match Roma ban

Donyell Malen’s dismissal against Como will cost Roma one Serie A match, not the longer suspension that had been speculated about after the challenge. He will miss the home game against Genoa on October 17 and is due back for the trip to Napoli on October 24.

The Sports Judge classified Malen’s challenge as a “serious foul of play”. The ruling treated his slide towards Como’s Kaiki as an attempt to play the ball: Malen touched it during the challenge. That distinction matters. Under Article 9, paragraph 7, the offence brings a one-match ban; a ruling for gravely unsporting conduct involving excessive force under Article 39, paragraph 2, would have meant two matches.

For Roma, the decision limits the immediate cost of the sending-off to the Genoa fixture. Malen has made one league appearance this season, without a goal or assist, so the ban removes him for one match before his scheduled return against Napoli.

Malen was not the only player suspended after the sixth round. Atalanta winger Eljif Elmas and Monza defender Lorenzo Lucchesi also received one-match bans after dismissals. Elmas was punished for a serious foul on Venezia’s Helgason, while Lucchesi was sent off for illegally stopping a clear scoring chance for Lazio’s Noslin. Elmas has one assist from one league appearance. Atalanta, 10th on nine points, next visit AC Milan on October 18.

The disciplinary decisions also reach the dugout. Luciano Spalletti and Fabio Pisacane each received a one-match ban following their confrontation after Cagliari-Juventus. The Sports Judge said Spalletti provoked the opposing coach and created tension between the benches; Pisacane was sanctioned for reacting and adding to that tension. Pisacane will miss Cagliari’s trip to Monza on October 19. His side are fourth on 13 points after six games.

The clearest consequence for Roma is a one-game absence rather than a two-match disruption. The Genoa match is the fixture Malen will miss; Napoli is the scheduled return.