Fiorentina promoted team manager Vincenzo Guerini to the role of head coach yesterday after sacking Delio Rossi for punching his own player during a match.

Rossi, usually one of the calmest coaches in the histrionic Italian league, lost his cool when substituting Serbian midfielder Adem Ljajic in the first half of the 2-2 home draw with relegated Novara on Wednesday.

The player ironically applauded the coach as he entered the dugout and Rossi grabbed Ljajic before landing two blows while scrabbling around on the ground.

Serie A also said in a statement that Rossi had received a three-month ban from the game and that Fiorentina had been fined 15,000 euros (US$19,700) because fans "ethnically insulted" Ljajic as he came off.

Meanwhile, AC Milan moved to within a point of Juventus at the top of Serie A after the defending champion beat Atalanta 2-0 and a Gianluigi Buffon error gifted lowly Lecce a 1-1 draw in Turin. Juventus could have wrapped up the title if results had gone its way and was looking good for three points almost from the start of its match with third-bottom Lecce.