Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain hit with four-match ban for red card reaction

Serie A's standout striker Gonzalo Higuain has been banned for four games and fined €20,000 (£16,000) by the league for his reaction to being sent off in Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Udinese.

The Argentine, who has 30 league goals this season, had to be restrained by his teammates after receiving a second yellow card and putting his hands on referee Massimiliano Irrati.

The loss to Udinese left Napoli six points behind leaders Juventus with only seven games remaining.

Higuain, whose 30 Serie A goals is 16 more than anyone else in the Italian top flight, will miss games against Hellas Verona, Inter Milan, Bologna and Roma.