A controversial situation has arisen in Italian football, as AC Milan’s Alex Jimenez played for the club’s Serie C team, Milan Futuro, while serving a suspension in Serie A. This has led to complaints from rival clubs and raised questions about the fairness of league regulations.

Jimenez, who received his fifth yellow card of the season in Milan’s 2-1 loss to Napoli, was suspended for the subsequent 2-2 draw with Fiorentina in Serie A. However, due to the suspension being competition-specific, he was allowed to play for Milan Futuro in Serie C.

The 19-year-old defender played the full 90 minutes in Milan Futuro’s 2-1 victory over Sestri Levante, helping the team climb to 17th place in the Serie C table. This win was crucial for Milan Futuro, as they are battling to avoid relegation in their first season in the senior leagues.

Stefano Risaliti, President of Sestri Levante, expressed his frustration with the situation. He compared it to his own team’s coach, Alberto Ruvo, who had to serve a suspension at the start of the season for a punishment received while coaching in Serie D. Risaliti questioned the fairness of the current rules, asking, “Does this seem equitable to you?”

The incident has sparked a debate about the consistency of suspension rules across different leagues in Italian football. It also highlights the potential advantages that clubs with affiliated teams in lower divisions might have in circumventing suspensions for their players.

As the season progresses, this controversy may lead to calls for a review of the current regulations to ensure a level playing field for all teams across different leagues in Italian football.