Tennis umpire banned for inappropriate behaviour with Ball Girl

Umpire Gianluca Moscarella, who was accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a ball girl, has been banned from officiating in any further Tennis matches pending investigation. This was announced by the ATP on Tuesday. This incident took place during a second-tier ATP men’s tournament match in Florence last week. Incidentally, he had also given some unsolicited advice to the player, Pedro Sousa.

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In a statement, the ATP said, “We are aware of a number of incidents involving chair umpire Gianluca Moscarella during a match between Pedro Sousa and Enrico Dalla Valle at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Florence last week. Moscarella was immediately dismissed from the tournament when the matter was brought to light, and a full investigation has been initiated. Meanwhile, Moscarella has been provisionally suspended from his services as a contracted ATP official pending the results of the investigation." 

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Footage of the incidents 

Social media is replete with video evidence that points towards the irregularities committed by the umpire in question. In the video, he is heard telling the girl that she is "very sexy" and then asking, "are you hot, physically or emotionally or both?" Similarly, he offered encouragement to Sousa, during his Challenger Tour match with Enrico Dalla Valle. 

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Moscarella is not the only umpire to be in the dock over inappropriate conduct on the Tennis court. In 2018, the Swedish umpire Mohamed Lahyani was found guilty of encouraging Australian player Nick Kyrgios. Subsequently, he was banned from officiating in two tournaments. 

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