Andrea Cambiaso Faces Two-Match Ban: Juventus Defender to Miss Crucial Derby d’Italia Against Inter
By Sports Desk
Turin, August 26, 2025 – Juventus suffered a significant blow just days into the 2025/26 Serie A season as defender Andrea Cambiaso was handed a two-match suspension by the Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC) sporting judge. The 25-year-old full-back, a key figure in new manager Igor Tudor’s tactical setup, will miss the Bianconeri’s upcoming clash with former club Genoa and, more critically, the highly anticipated Derby d’Italia against Inter Milan on September 13.
The decision stems from Cambiaso’s red card in Juventus’ 2-0 opening-day victory over Parma on August 24 at the Allianz Stadium. In the 83rd minute—with the score at 1-0 and the ball not in play—Cambiaso reacted to a challenge from Parma’s Oscar Lovik by striking the Norwegian winger in the face with an open hand. Referee Matteo Marcenaro immediately brandished a straight red card for violent conduct, leaving Juventus to see out the final minutes with 10 men. Dusan Vlahovic later sealed the win in stoppage time.
The Incident and Immediate Aftermath
The episode unfolded during a tense moment late in the game, where Lovik appeared to foul Cambiaso first, prompting the Italian’s instinctive retaliation. Former referee Graziano Cesari, commenting on Mediaset, described it as a “clear case under the rules: two matches for a reactive foul.” The sporting judge’s official motivation read: “For having, at the 38th minute of the second half, with the ball not in contention, struck an opposing player in the face with a slap.”
Cambiaso, who joined Juventus from Genoa in 2022 and has since become a versatile asset capable of playing as a left-back, wing-back, or midfielder, quickly apologized on Instagram the following day. “I am not a violent person: in my life, I have never raised a hand or done something like this. It was a gesture that doesn’t belong to me, and I am ashamed,” he wrote, addressing fans and teammates. Tudor echoed the sentiment post-match, calling it a “carelessness” for which the player would be fined internally, while praising Cambiaso’s overall growth: “Players like him are rare; he’s improving defensively and has unique attacking qualities.”
Under FIGC regulations (Article 12 of the Sports Justice Code), such acts of violent conduct outside of play typically warrant at least a two-match ban, aligning with precedents for similar reactive fouls. The suspension means Cambiaso will sit out the Serie A Matchday 2 fixture against Genoa on August 31 at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium and the Matchday 3 blockbuster against Inter at home.
Impact on Juventus’ Early Season Plans
For Tudor, who deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation in the Parma win—with goals from Timothy Weah (formerly David in some reports, but confirmed as Weah’s strike) and Vlahovic—the absence of Cambiaso poses a tactical headache. The 25-year-old Italian international started on the left flank, providing balance with his defensive solidity and forward surges. His versatility has been a cornerstone of Tudor’s rebuilding project following a turbulent summer.
Potential replacements include Filip Kostic for experience on the left, Joao Mario shifting from midfield, or even adapting Pierre Kalulu or the young Nicolò Savona to the wing-back role. There’s optimism that injured left-back Juan Cabal could return in time for the Inter game, but his fitness remains uncertain. The Genoa match, against Cambiaso’s boyhood club, adds an emotional layer, but the real stakes lie in the Derby d’Italia—a fixture that could set the tone for both teams’ Scudetto aspirations.
Inter, under new coach Cristian Chivu, began their campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Torino and will relish the absence of a key Juventus player in what is already shaping up to be an early litmus test. Analysts note that while Juventus dominated Parma (9 wins in their last 10 home games in the calendar year), this suspension could disrupt momentum just as the squad integrates new signings and navigates ongoing transfer rumors involving Vlahovic and potential targets like Randal Kolo Muani.
Other Serie A Sanctions
The sporting judge’s report also included a one-match ban for Sassuolo’s Ismael Kenneth Koné, sent off for two yellows against Napoli. Fines were levied on five clubs: Pisa (€10,000), Genoa (€6,000), Parma (€4,000), Lecce (€3,000), and Napoli (€1,500), primarily for fan behavior or pitch invasions. Additionally, a supplementary investigation was opened into racist chants directed at Juventus’ Weston McKennie during the Parma game.
As Juventus resume training today, Tudor will look to rally the squad amid this setback. With the transfer window still open until September 1, further reinforcements could ease the blow, but for now, the focus shifts to adapting without one of their most reliable performers. Fans and pundits alike will watch closely to see how the Bianconeri respond in what promises to be a defining early stretch of the season.