Juventus goalkeeper Buffon fined for blasphemy

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was on Thursday fined €5 000 by the Italian Football Federation for blasphemy.

The 43-year-old Italian World Cup-winner, who escaped a ban for the offence, was overheard using a “blasphemous expression” towards teammate Manolo Portanova during Juve’s 4-0 league win over Parma on 19 December.

• Dikko Inde, former Customs Comptroller-General, Is Dead
• Kagara student: Bandits killed our colleague in my presence

Buffon, who holds the record for Serie A matches played with 653 to date, was not caught on camera but there was an audio recording of the incident.

Since 2010, the Italian FA have taken disciplinary action against several players and coaches heard disrespecting God or the sacred.