Chiellini gets ban, but Prandelli backing

Rome: Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini was Tuesday hit with a three-match ban for elbowing an opponent in the face, but he is unlikely to miss out on making Cesare Prandelli`s Italy squad for the World Cup.

Chiellini was found guilty by the Italian league of hitting Roma`s Miralem Pjanic in the face during Sunday`s 1-0 league victory, an action caught on video playback. But unlike Mattia Destro, who was last month suspended for three matches for throwing a punch and then missed fitness tests for 42 players conducted by Prandelli, Chiellini did not fall foul of the national team`s code of conduct. "For me, it`s not a violent gesture," Prandelli said, adding that Chiellini "will be in the 30-player (provsional) squad". "He didn`t raise his arm to hurt someone."