Juve's Nedved gets five match ban

MILAN, Dec 5 (Reuters) Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved has been handed a five match ban following his sending off in a Serie B game against Genoa.

The Italian Football League's disciplinary commission said that former Czech international Nedved protested his injury time red card in Friday's match by ''insulting the referee and stamping on his foot''.

Juventus, demoted to Serie B by a sports tribunal which investigated match-fixing allegations, are currently second in the table -- a point behind leaders Napoli.

Juventus coach Didier Deschamps said he was shocked by the length of the ban.

''It was hard to imagine something like this because five matches really is a lot. But before I say anything else I'd better think about it 10 times over,'' said the French coach.

Napoli also received a punishment from the commission -- they will have to play their next game behind closed doors after crowd disturbances against Frosinone on Saturday.

REUTERS PDS VC2056