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Novellino defies touchline ban Thursday 27 September, 2007

Torino Coach Walter Novellino has been fined and reprimanded for breaking into the Granata’s dressing room to give instructions while banned.

Novellino was serving a touchline suspension for insulting Andrea Gervasoni during his side’s draw with Siena as Toro faced Parma at the Stadio Tardini.

However, the ex-Sampdoria tactician hid in a room between the shower room and the dressing room and spoke to his players from behind the wall before escaping back to the stands.

The daring scheme proved futile as the Turin outfit flopped to a 2-0 defeat against a rejuvenated Crociati side.

It is believed that Novellino got the idea from ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho who did the same thing during Chelsea’s 2005 Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

The likely punishment will hit the Avellino native hard in the wallet as he now faces a fine of around £8,000, but the ban will not be extended.

channel4.com - Football Italia