Chivu disqualified for hitting opponent for four matches (VIDEO) © EuroFootball.com

Milan's defender Cristian Chivu has been disqualified for four matches for hitting an opponent in the face with an accidental blow.

In Thursday's match against "Bari," the Romanian defender struck Marco Rossi, but the referee did not notice the incident and did not punish Chivu. However, the "Serie A" disciplinary committee used video footage and imposed strict sanctions.

Chivu's suspension likely means that Japanese defender Yuto Nagatomo, acquired at the end of January, will have a chance to play in Sunday's match against "Roma."