ROME, March 4 (Serie A) - Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano has been handed a five-match ban by the Lega Calcio's disciplinary committee after throwing his shirt at the referee following his sending-off in Sunday's match against Torino.

Having been booked for over celebrating his 53rd-minute goal, Cassano was sent off late in the game for using foul and abusive language to referee Nicola Pierpaoli.

The Bari-born striker then had to be restrained by team-mates from going after the official but managed to take off his shirt and hurl it at Pierpaoli.

Cassano has also been fined 15,000 euros by the Lega Calcio.

mfl