Rafiu Durosinmi’s difficult start to life in Italy has taken another turn, after the Nigerian striker was handed a two-match suspension on Tuesday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The former Viktoria Plzen forward's ban following his recent red card for violent conduct in football during Pisa’s win over Cagliari.
The decision was confirmed by the league’s sports judge, who ruled that Durosinmi’s actions, kicking an opponent while the ball was out of play, deserved a strong punishment. The 21-year-old will now miss two important matches for Pisa Sporting Club as they continue their fight to avoid relegation.
Durosinmi handed two-match ban after red-card incident
The incident happened in the 37th minute of Pisa’s 3–1 victory over Cagliari. Durosinmi was involved in a heated battle with experienced defender Yerry Mina, who was trying to stop him from finding space in attack.
Mina’s physical and aggressive style seemed to frustrate the Nigerian forward. After being repeatedly held and challenged, Durosinmi reacted by lashing out at the defender when the ball was not in play. Referee Federico La Penna saw the incident clearly and immediately showed a straight red card.
The punishment did not end there. After reviewing the incident, the sports judge has confirmed a two-match suspension. This means Durosinmi will miss Pisa’s away game against Como on March 22 and their home clash with Torino on April 5.
This suspension comes at a very bad time for Pisa, who are currently sitting 19th in the league table and are seven points away from safety. Every match is crucial, and losing a key striker reduces their attacking options.
Elsewhere, Michel Aebischer was also suspended for one match after picking up a yellow card in a recent win. Several other players across the league received one-match bans, while coaches including Cristian Chivu and Maurizio Sarri were also punished.
A promising start now overshadowed by inconsistency and discipline
Durosinmi joined Pisa in January from Viktoria Plzeň in a big-money €11 million move, and he made an immediate impression. On his debut against Atalanta, he came off the bench to score a late equaliser and was named Man of the Match.
He also showed his creative side by providing an assist against Sassuolo later that month. At that point, it looked like Pisa had found a player who could help them survive in the league.
However, things have not gone smoothly since then. Durosinmi has failed to score in his last seven appearances and has often been used as a substitute or taken off early. His recent red card has now added to concerns about his discipline and decision-making on the pitch.
So far, he has played nine matches, scored one goal, and provided one assist. While his strength and ability in the air have been useful, he has sometimes looked isolated in a struggling team.
Now, with a two-match suspension to serve, Durosinmi faces a key moment in his young career. When he returns, Pisa will need not only his physical presence but also better composure and discipline if they are to stay in Italy’s top flight.
