ROME - Roma were yesterday awarded a 3-0 victory over Cagliari by the Italian football authorities after their match at the Sardinian club on Sunday was controversially postponed hours before kick-off.
The match was set to be played in an empty stadium because Cagliari's Is Arena stadium is undergoing renovation work.
However, club president Massimo Cellino invited supporters to attend the match regardless, forcing the local authorities in Cagliari to call a halt to the league fixture over security fears.
Roma's general manager Franco Baldini hit out at the alleged manipulation of the situation by Cagliari and indicated that the club would be appealing to be awarded the match under article 17 of the Italian Football Federation's charter.
Judge Gianpaolo Tosel found in favour of Roma and awarded the club a 3-0 victory.
The win allows Roma, who host Sampdoria on Thursday, to move up to fifth place in the Serie A table. Meanwhile, AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has been suspended for one match after protesting to match officials after his side's 2-1 defeat at Udinese.
A brief statement said Allegri was punished for protesting to the match referee as the teams were going down the tunnel after full-time in Sunday's match in Udine, which was Milan's third defeat in four games.
It means the 45-year-old, who has been under immense pressure during Milan's catastrophic start to the season, will be banned from the touchline for Cagliari's visit to the San Siro on Wednesday.
Allegri has so far been given the backing of club bosses, including owner and president Silvio Berlusconi, but it remains to be seen how they will react if Milan slip to a fourth defeat.
Milan finished runners-up last season, a year after Allegri led them to the title in his first season in charge.