Muntari banned 1 match for protesting racist chants as Cagliari avoids penalty

Pescara midfielder Sulley Muntari has been handed a one-match ban by Serie A's governing body after the Ghanaian was sent off for protesting racist chants directed at him by Cagliari supporters.

The Lega Nazionale Professionisti (LNP) announced the suspension with a statement Tuesday, adding that while the fans' actions were "deplorable", Cagliari will not suffer penalty as only "approximately 10" supporters were involved, according to BBC Sport.

Muntari was initially shown a yellow card for dissent after he approached match official Daniele Minelli during Sunday's tilt at Cagliari's Stadio Sant'Elia before marching off the pitch in protest.

The former AC Milan midfielder then received a second yellow. The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has thrown its support behind the 32-year-old, saying, "Muntari was well within his rights to approach the referee."

Related: FIFPro shows support for Muntari after racial abuse from Cagliari fans

"Players should feel comfortable bringing any issue to the attention of the referee, especially one as significant as allegations of racism in the workplace," FIFPro's statement continued. "We urge Italian authorities to hear Muntari's version of events, investigate why the situation was mismanaged, and take firm action to ensure this never happens again."

Countless instances of racism in Italian football have drawn similar reactions, with current Las Palmas attacker Kevin-Prince Boateng providing one example of a player taking matters in his own hands.

A former Ghana international teammate of Muntari, Boateng walked off the pitch while with Milan during a friendly with lower-league Pro Patria in January 2013.

On Tuesday, Boateng expressed his support for Muntari with a message on Twitter, quoting the statement his Black Stars made post-match about a particular child hurling racist abuse.

Barring an appeal, Muntari will miss Sunday's Serie A visit from Crotone. Pescara is already aware of its fate after securing a drop to the second tier with a 4-1 loss to Roma.