Mario Balotelli suspended 3 matches; AC Milan to appeal

AC Milan will appeal against Mario Balotelli's three-match suspension for insulting a match official during the Serie A game against Fiorentina. Balotelli was

Mario Balotelli and AC Milan are in third place in the Serie A table :: Claudio Villa/Getty Images

AC Milan will appeal against Mario Balotelli's three-match suspension for insulting a match official during the Serie A game against Fiorentina.

Balotelli was already automatically suspended for one match after picking up his fourth booking of the season in the 2-2 draw Sunday.

However, another two matches were added to his ban on Tuesday for insulting one of the assistant referees at the end of the game.

Balotelli will miss Milan's crunch matches against Napoli and Juventus as well as the visit of Catania.

The Italy striker has scored 10 goals in 11 games for club and country in 2013.

Milan is third, four points behind Napoli in the fight for second place and an automatic Champions League berth.

Defending champion Juventus has a nine-point lead with seven games remaining.